The Sims 4 is free to download and keep forever

The Sims 4 is free to play from tomorrow - huge news for those who let the dishes pile up in their sink for days while ensuring their Sim gets a tidy eight hours of sleep before driving their convertible to the hospital for their shift as the chief of staff.

This offer applies to Mac, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, and if you've bought the game before, Electronic Arts has a gift for you. The Desert Luxe Kit promises a "modern oasis" air to your interior and outdoor spaces with neutral, natural tones and functional aestheticism.

Check out this oh-so-satisfying recreation of the Dunder Mifflin offices from The Office in The Sims 4 below!

Now it's time to read the small print. This is not like The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection which was given away for free when Electronic Arts announced it would no longer support the game in 2014. That contained the original game and all of its expansion packs. Claiming The Sims 4 tomorrow will only offer you the base game - you'll still have to splash the cash on its expansions like Get to Work, Cats & Dogs, Island Living, Cottage Living and so on to benefit from their features.

Additionally, this does not necessarily mean that The Sims 5 is imminent. As per the free to play announcement, Electronic Arts and Maxis are “more dedicated than ever to developing new and meaningful experiences for players, and will continue to develop and release packs, Kits and Sims Delivery Express drops into the foreseeable future.” Still, with eight years of expansions and custom content to choose from, it's a great time to be a Simmer.