EA's free-to-play title The Sims Mobile has hit the number one spot on the iPhone and iPad download charts on its launch day, according to mobile data firm Sensor Tower.
The game was originally soft-launched last year on May 9th and is EA’s first non-sports release on mobile since Plants vs Zombies Heroes in October 2016.
That game made it as high as third in the iPhone downloads in the US and suggests a significant marketing push from the publisher.
The Sims Mobile is a notable departure from the publisher’s last mobile Sims effort, The Sims Freeplay. The new title features characters and homes that are fully customisable, and players are required to land their Sims jobs and friends to fulfil their needs.
While the game is free-to-play, unlike the mobile ports of The Sims 3 and its expansions, the game features both ads and in-app purchases.
Simulated fun
The Sims Mobile’s predecessor Sims FreePlay launched over five years ago and continues to be updated and kept active. According to EA’s senior producer Amanda Schofield, the game has been downloaded over 200 million times to date.
"In The Sims Mobile, we've dramatically increased the fidelity and quality of Sims and the various environments they play in," said EA Maxis creative director Brandon Gill.
"Creating unique, completely customised Sims, building a dream home, and exploring exciting careers have always been tent poles of The Sims franchise.”
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