Yes, The Sims 4 Can Still Be Played on Origin in 2024

As a long-time fan of The Sims games, I‘ve been following the updates on Origin and what it means for accessing The Sims 4. I‘m happy to confirm that you can absolutely continue to play The Sims 4 through Origin in 2024 – with some caveats.

Let‘s get into the details!

The Transition from Origin to the EA App on Windows

First, some background. Origin is the gaming client developed by Electronic Arts (EA) in 2011 to allow players to purchase, download and play EA games on PC. It has served as the portal for installing, launching and managing The Sims games on Windows computers for over a decade.

However in 2020, EA announced plans to retire Origin and replace it with a new unified gaming platform – the EA App. This change came to fruition in October 2022 when Origin for Windows was officially discontinued.

This means Windows PC players can no longer use Origin to access their game libraries and will need to transition to the EA App instead. It‘s essentially Origin under a new name, with some user interface improvements.

The key things to know about the EA App:

• All your Origin game data, purchases, download files, and entitlements carry over
• Features like cloud saves, achievements, friend lists remain the same
• The Sims 4 (including all expansions and DLCs) can be installed & launched through the EA App
• Mods and user-created custom content still work as normal

So while saying farewell to Origin is bittersweet, Windows players can continue enjoying The Sims 4 through the EA App without issues.

What About Origin for Mac Users?

Unlike the Windows version, Origin for MacOS has NOT been retired as of February 2023. In a recent blog update, EA stated:

Origin for Mac is still the place you can access your games. When the time comes for Origin for Mac to evolve, we‘ll let our players know what changes to expect.

This means that Mac gamers are able to install, launch and play The Sims 4 through Origin exactly like before. Your entire game library remains intact and playable on macOS systems.

EA has shared there are currently no planned changes or timelines for sunsetting Origin on Mac. It appears Origin will remain the EA gaming client for macOS for the foreseeable future.

So for now, it‘s business as usual when it comes to enjoying The Sims 4 on your Mac desktop or laptop.

(As of February 2023, roughly 9% of The Sims player base use Mac computers, according to SimsVIP community estimates.)

Troubleshooting The Sims 4 Issues on Origin

As a devoted Simmer myself, I know how frustrating technical problems can be when you just want to play or create.

If you experience crashes, failures to launch or other issues when trying to play The Sims 4 through Origin (on Windows or Mac), here is my comprehensive troubleshooting guide:

1. Repair the Game Files

Corrupted game files are a common culprit behind launch errors and bugs. I‘d recommend starting by verifying the integrity of your Sims 4 install and having Origin repair anything missing or damaged.

• Right-click on The Sims 4 in Origin and select "Repair"
• Wait for the repair process to finish then try launching again

2. Clear The Sims 4 Cache & Local Data

Over time, old cached images, videos and corrupted local files can accumulate and cause problems. Clearing this data forces a clean refresh.

• Browse to Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4
• Delete the folders named cache and localthumbcache
• Browse to C:\ProgramData\Origin\Local Data\The Sims 4
• Delete everything inside The Sims 4 game folder

3. Update Graphics Drivers

Ensuring your GPU drivers are updated often resolves graphics-related crashes to desktop. Use the GeForce Experience or Radeon Software app to download the latest releases.

4. Allow Origin/Sims Through Your Firewall

Firewalls that block Origin‘s outbound connections can interfere with playability. Adding exceptions for Origin and The Sims 4 executable lets them connect as required.

5. Reinstall Origin Platform

If you still can‘t get The Sims 4 working in Origin after trying the above, fully uninstalling Origin and doing a clean reinstall has helped many users (including myself).

As you can see, there are a few potential fixes to explore if you find yourself unable to play The Sims through Origin on your Windows or Mac system. Let me know in the comments if any of these solutions worked for you!

What Does The Future Hold for Origin?

While Origin still has an active user base across Windows and MacOS, its transition to the EA App on Windows likely signals its eventual end-of-life as EA moves towards consolidated platforms and services.

Just when Origin for Mac will be retired remains ambiguous for now. But my expectation is that EA will allow 1-2 years to gradually migrate any lingering user holdouts before shutting it down fully.

Here is a comparison between features in Origin vs the EA App to give a sense for their functional parity:

Rest assured that popular franchises like The Sims, Battlefield, and Mass Effect will live on whichever future gaming service EA adopts. But the era of Origin does seem to be winding down.

As veteran player of over 20 years and content creator passionate about the gaming industry, I hope this analysis has provided helpful insights on the continued accessibility of The Sims 4 through Origin in 2024 and beyond. Let me know your thoughts or any questions in the comments!