Maxis, the studio behind one of the most ubiquitous PC games of all time, The Sims, is now hiring a Senior Game Designer with experience in developing multiplayer video games. With the majority of Maxis titles having only had somewhat limited multiplayer capabilities, this presents fans with a potentially fascinating new world of possibility for the studio's next mainline release.
Of course, The Sims isn't the only franchise Maxis has worked on in the past. The studio had previously worked on games such as SimCity and Spore, most notably, wherein both of these IPs flirted with the basics of multiplayer functionality at some point in time. Regardless, the developer's next project calls for a person to "advocate for the social and multiplayer aspects of all experiences," and Maxis is now looking for someone trained in the multiplayer gaming niche to jump into this position.
It's been known for some time now that Maxis is modernizing The Sims' graphics engine to a potentially substantial extent, suggesting that the studio may be gearing up for a new mainline Sims release. Now, however, it has also been revealed that the studio is ready for a modern multiplayer experiment in one of its upcoming titles. Specifically, Maxis needs someone with ample expertise in multiplayer game design for PC, consoles, and mobile devices, as well as with production know-how for live-service games.
The new Maxis hire would be tasked with bringing players and their creations together in potentially unexpected ways, which may sound familiar to fans of Spore. It has been argued that Spore should be explored anew with cutting-edge technology and contemporary gaming sensibilities, but it's rather unlikely that this is the direction that Maxis would take. Instead, the likelier outcome is that Maxis is hoping to implement advanced multiplayer features into its next Sims title.
It makes perfect sense for Maxis to pursue this line of thinking, too. Some have argued that The Sims 5 should focus on daily routine yet again, instead of delivering ever-crazier topical DLC with werewolves and various other assorted sci-fi and fantasy elements. What better way for Maxis to sign off on this notion than to work on a way to officially implement a Sims multiplayer mode?
After all, a new Sims game is long overdue by now. The franchise has proven immensely successful for Maxis and Electronic Arts over the years, and the odds of them skipping over a new mainline Sims title in lieu of a different and riskier IP are rather low. Whatever the case may be, fans should keep an eye on further news about Maxis, as it's likely that the studio's next project - Sims or not - will be an exciting predicament.