If Electronic Arts and Maxis were to make one big announcement during E3 2021, it would be a confirmation of their plans for the next mainline game in their Sims simulation franchise, likely titled The Sims 5. We are about due for a new instalment, and given the level of apathy towards the latest generation compared to all others before it, a reboot from scratch is well overdue. Alas, this didn’t happen. Instead, we are learning about yet another Expansion Pack planned for release on 22 July 2021. So get ready to move away from the cities and suburbia and embrace the village lifestyle in The Sims 4: Cottage Living.
Featuring some of the themes and supplementary content one would expect to see in a traditional ‘Pets’ expansion, The Sims 4: Cottage Living will allow you to take your sims to the countryside. It is here where farms are all the rage, living off the land is encouraged, and pollution is (hopefully) nowhere near as dense.
Promoted features of this expansion include:
RAISE OR BEFRIEND ANIMALS
Cows provide fresh (flavoured!) milk while chickens lay eggs in the coop. In the forest, look out for wild rabbits, foxes, and birds. Earn their trust for occasional gifts and help in the garden.
LIVE OFF THE LAND
Lot Challenges require fresh ingredients for each meal. Grow produce yourself, visit the village market, or forage in the wild to get them. Enter any oversize crops in the Finchwick Fair competition!
EMBRACE VILLAGE LIFE
Henford-on-Bagley is a cozy place where everyone knows everyone. So head down to the pub with your cross-stitching and picnic basket to meet locals and learn about the town’s lore.
Ignoring the indication that there could be cows laying chocolate flavoured milk, everything is pretty much as you would expect from a Cottage Living expansion – alongside the typical inclusions such as new furniture, build options and clothing. Oh, and it reintroduces a certain family, which may make your bottom crumple.
The Sims 4: Cottage Living is the eleventh expansion pack released for The Sims 4, and will be available on 22 July 2021 for the Windows PC, MacOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. As always, this is an expansion pack and requires the base game to play.
