No, The Sims 4 is not multiplayer. It is a single player game with no co-op, no shared worlds and no online lobby, and EA has never added one. What it does have is the Gallery, where you can share and download Sims, households, rooms and lots with other players. If you want to play in the same household as your friends, the only way is the fan made S4MP mod.
Is there any official multiplayer in The Sims 4?
No. The Sims 4 launched on PC in September 2014 and on Mac in February 2015, and it has always been single player. The game is built to be played offline and does not need a constant internet connection. You cannot invite a friend into your save, visit their neighborhood or control Sims together on one screen. That is still true after the base game became free to play on October 18, 2022, and after every pack and patch since.
What online and social features The Sims 4 does have
The social side of The Sims 4 is all about sharing what you make, not playing together in real time.
- The Gallery. An online exchange built into the game. You can upload your Sims, households, rooms and buildings, and download other players’ creations straight into your game.
- Profiles, follows and likes. Your Gallery homepage shows your friends, followers and the accounts you follow, plus comments and the uploads you choose to showcase.
- Gallery outside the game. You can also browse the Gallery on the web through TheSims.com.
- Cross platform sharing. PC, Mac and console players share the same Gallery, so a house built on PC can be downloaded on PlayStation or Xbox and the other way around.
You only need an EA account to use the Gallery. None of this lets two people play in the same world at the same time.
Is The Sims 4 multiplayer on PS4, PS5 or Xbox?
No. The console version came out on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 17, 2017, and it plays on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backwards compatibility. It is single player like the PC version. Console players got the Gallery on January 16, 2020, and do not need PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold for it. Mods and custom content are not available on console, so the S4MP Multiplayer Mod does not work there either. If a Gallery lot uses custom content, console players can still download it, but the custom content is removed.
Why EA never added multiplayer
The Sims 4 actually started life as an online game. Its early prototype, codenamed Olympus, was planned mainly as an online multiplayer experience, in the spirit of The Sims Online. Late in development it was rebuilt as an offline single player game. According to former Maxis leads Charles London and Lucy Bradshaw (in Retro Gamer’s “The History of The Sims”, 2019), the online part was dropped because of the financial risk and poor results in focus testing. The troubled online only launch of SimCity in 2013 also played a part.
Looking ahead, EA said in 2022 that with Project Rene players will be able to “play solo or collaborate with others”, but that is a separate project, not an update to The Sims 4.
The S4MP mod: the only way to play with friends
S4MP (sims 4 multiplayer) is a fan made mod, not an EA product. According to its makers, it lets you play with up to 12 friends in real time in the same household, where you see what the others do and can interact with their Sims. The short version:
- The public version is free and works over LAN. Online play and the newest features are in the paid early access version on Patreon.
- It works on PC and Mac, across game launchers. It does not work on console.
- Everyone needs the same packs, mods and custom content.
- All players share one household and travel together. You cannot play on separate lots.
For versions, downloads and setup step by step, read our full guide: Can you play The Sims 4 with friends? S4MP explained. After a game patch, check our mod status page before you start a session.
FAQ
Is The Sims 4 multiplayer?
No. The Sims 4 is single player on PC, Mac and console. There is no official co-op or online mode.
Can I play The Sims 4 online with friends without mods?
No. Without mods, the closest you get is sharing creations through the Gallery and following each other there.
Is The Sims 4 multiplayer on console?
No. The console version is single player, and mods like S4MP cannot be installed on PlayStation or Xbox.
Does The Sims 4 need an internet connection?
No. The game is made to be played offline. You only need to be online for things like the Gallery.
Is the S4MP mod free?
The public version is free over LAN. Online play is part of the early access version for Patreon supporters.
Will EA add multiplayer to The Sims 4?
EA has not announced any multiplayer mode for The Sims 4.
Sources: The Sims Wiki (The Sims 4, The Sims 4 Gallery, The Sims 4 console, The Sims Olympus), ea.com and sims-multiplayer.com. Updated November 2026.