EA has quietly sent a closed survey to select Sims 4 playtesters, and the questions go well beyond the usual satisfaction check-in. Alongside standard feedback about bugs, DLC value, and community trust, the survey asks players to rank their interest in Maker-created gameplay elements, including traits, careers, NPCs, aspirations, and skills, sold through The Sims 4 Marketplace.
The survey was first reported by Sims Community, who published screenshots of the full questionnaire. Because the survey was only distributed to a limited group, there is no public link and no way for the wider player base to participate.
Gameplay from Makers, not just furniture
Until now, Maker Packs on the Marketplace have been limited to cosmetic and build/buy items: hairstyles, furniture sets, bedroom themes. This survey signals that EA is at least exploring whether to open the door to something far more substantial.
One question asks respondents to rank 11 gameplay element categories by interest, on a scale from most to least:
- Buffs and moodlets
- Sim traits
- Lot traits
- Aspirations
- Careers
- NPCs
- Likes and dislikes
- Wants and fears
- Skills
- Sentiments
- Interactive objects
The survey defines "gameplay elements" as content that "adds to or changes how Sims behave, interact, and experience the world around them." A follow-up question asks players to describe, in their own words, what high-quality Maker-made gameplay would look and feel like.
Mods, breakage, and the update cycle
A significant chunk of the survey focuses on the modding experience. EA asks how frequently mods and CC break after official updates, which specific mods are affected most, and how long it takes players to get their game working again after a patch. Response options for repair time range from "less than 15 minutes" to "more than 2 hours."
These questions sit alongside broader satisfaction items about whether the base game has enough content on its own, whether DLC feels worth its price, and whether players rely on mods and CC to have fun. The combination suggests EA is trying to understand the relationship between official content, community-made content, and the friction that exists between the two every time an update drops.
Franchise trust and the Marketplace
The survey also probes player trust in the franchise's direction. Respondents are asked whether The Sims team listens to the community, whether they feel optimistic about the franchise's future, and whether The Sims is "investing in the future of The Sims 4." Separate sections gauge satisfaction with the Marketplace itself, comfort with the Moola virtual currency, and whether Maker Packs feel worth the price or offer something different from official DLC.
Players who express dissatisfaction with Maker Pack pricing or quality are asked to explain their reasoning in open-text fields, and there are pointed questions about whether bugs have made players less willing to buy DLC or recommend the game.
A survey is not an announcement
It is worth being direct about what this is and what it is not. Surveys like this are a research tool; EA runs them regularly to test ideas and measure sentiment. The presence of these questions does not confirm that Maker-created careers or traits are in development or coming to the Marketplace. It does confirm that the concept is on EA's radar, and that they are actively measuring demand for it.
If Maker gameplay content does eventually arrive, it would represent the biggest expansion of the Marketplace program since it launched. Selling a furniture set is one thing. Selling a new career path or a custom NPC system is a fundamentally different proposition, one that overlaps with territory that free mods have occupied for years. How EA would handle quality control, compatibility with updates, and pricing for that kind of content are open questions the survey does not address.
For now, this is a closed survey with no public results timeline. We will be watching for any follow-up from EA.