Sometimes combing two amazing things together can have disappointing results. EA seems to be learning this the hard way after receiving immense backlash after revealing its new Star Wars game pack for The Sims 4. The Sims 4 - Star Wars: Journey to Batuu has the Sims community up in arms, with many fans labeling it as a greedy cash grab nobody wanted.
While plenty of Sims players enjoy Star Wars, many fans would rather see EA release a more realistic game pack that features elements found in the previous entries. In fact, a poll conducted early this year shows that a Star Wars crossover was the least wanted game pack. The lack of cars, toddlers and certain customizable features has made The Sims 4 feel half-baked compared to earlier entries. Adding an unnecessary Star Wars game pack doesn't appeal to Sims fans the way more traditional game packs have.
The Sims and Star Wars are two very different things that don't seem to go together very well. Many Sims' fans just don't want to take their Sim on an epic interdimensional journey. They'd rather have a game pack that expands The Sims life-like universe, something full of new career choices, features and useful household items. The Sims 4 is missing many features found in previous entries. If EA would listen to the player base and release a game pack that included these missing features, it would please the Sims community while painting the company in a better light.
Many diehard fans are going so far as to call Star Wars: Journey to Batuu a blatant advertisement for Disney World's new Star Wars-themed area, Galaxy's Edge. Galaxy's Edge is based on the planet Batuu, leading many people to believe The Sims 4 game pack only exists to promote Disney World's new area. As EA owns the Star Wars video game license, they've had a healthy working relationship with Disney for some time now, giving the theory some legs to stand on. EA has also used questionable business tactics in the past, so releasing an avaricious game pack promoting a Disney World attraction isn't all that shocking. While EA may have just released the pack as a means of appealing to Sims fans who are also Star Wars fans, the odds of it just being a blatant Disney promotion aren't unlikely.
Star Wars: Journey to Batuu is one of the most controversial game packs Sims fans have seen in a long time. Adding seemingly nothing to The Sims 4 experience, most fans want a traditional game pack instead. EA needs to start listening to its consumers if it wishes to maintain a healthy relationship with gamers. However, the damage may have already been done as Sims fans continue to criticize EA for its greedy business practices.