One would think that The Sims, a series all about consumption, consumerism, and personal relationships, would naturally be online. While The Sims does have a strong online community, players haven't actually been able to meet each other in-game since the closure of The Sims Online/EA Land in August 2008. That could be poised to change with The Sims 5, rumored for announcement this year.
EA has certainly ed The Sims 4. Although the game first shipped in 2014, there have since been 18 "stuff" packs, 10 expansion packs, nine "game" packs, and three "kits," the latest Sims 4 updates launching as recently as March 2021. These have all added possibilities within a single-player context, such as careers, destinations, and decorations. Players can even practice magic or become a vampire - in fact there are so many options that a sequel will have to pare some of them away if it's going to ship this decade.
In a February earnings call, EA CEO Andrew Wilson promised that online features will be added to The Sims "in the years to come," specifically referring to the sort of "social interactions and competition" seen in The Sims Online. Although that could refer to a Sims 6, or yet another spinoff, The Sims 5 may actually be the most plausible answer. The Sims Online was a failure - and as difficult as adding multiplayer to a conventional Sims game might be, it's doubtful EA would want to leave the feature out for several more years. At worst, multiplayer might be postponed into a Sims 5 add-on.
What Multiplayer Could Actually Look Like In Sims 5
Exactly how the feature might work is uncertain. Though an open Sims world is possible, EA could alternately use an invite system for multiplayer in The Sims 5, which would offer the advantage of more privacy and control over visitors - particularly important when kids are playing. Either way, the feature will need variable privileges, since while friends and family might be okay with their house being redecorated, strangers probably won't be. No doubt some players will want to preserve a completely single-player experience, given how calm The Sims can be.
This is all assuming The Sims 5 is in development, naturally. The next EA Play Live is rumored to be scheduled for June 14, in the middle of E3 2021, and would be the most likely opportunity for an announcement if the game is shipping in the next 12 months. Of course, the internet means EA could choose to make an announcement about The Sims 5 and any potential multiplayer features at any time, but E3 is the biggest industry-wide event and a prime position for exposure.