The Sims has decided that it's time to take on Fortnite at the internet performance gig, with a The Sims 4 music festival. While Epic Games' megahit has had concerts from a variety of performers like Travis Scott, the Sims 4 is aiming for a unique music festival experience with Sims Sessions over two weeks.
Running June 29th through July 7th, the event will take place in-game, and will feature the first time that Simlish songs will debut in-game. These songs will be performed by the Grammy-nominated Bebe Rexha, Glass Animals' Dave Bayley, and Joy Oladokun, among others. The festival format is entirely new and will have more than just music, as players will be able to camp out and shop exclusive digital merchandise featuring the artists performing.
Of course, it wouldn't be a festivity in 2021 if it wasn't involving social media in some way, and there is no social media that is more apt for music than TikTok. Parternight up with Rexha, and Tiktok musical personalities, the community will have karaoke challenges to do in the Simlish Sessions. This will feature side-by-side duets with Rexha, and doing twists on her single Sabotage, with a chance to be re-posted by her.
“I’ve always been a fan of how The Sims empowers players to express their creativity with others in the game. Sims Sessions will be a fun experience for fans from around the world to enjoy music and hang with friends in a way that only The Sims can offer. I’m so excited to return to the game and also can’t wait to see the fans posting their Simlish videos of ‘Sabotage!’” - Bebe Rexha.
Sabotage is also Bebe Rexha's main feature for the festival with a simlish rendition of that coming. Bayley will be doing a Simlish version of Heat Waves, while Oladokun does her ballad Breathe Again. After the main show, players will be able to put on performances of their own with other sims on the festival stage.
Steve Schnur, the President of Music at EA, expressed that he thinks Sims Sessions is the next evolution of music in The Sims. He says that nowhere else can players hear and experience these performances, and that he thinks EA will reset the bar for gaming, music, and global culture.
