On February 20th, 2019, EA dropped a trailer for the new addition to the Sims 4 Oeuvre and the fandom was immediately split. This new expansion/game pack was called “Strangerville” and many fans of the series were not sure how to feel. The trailer follows a young girl of military origins who discovers that something is amiss in the town in which she lives. With the help of a local conspiracy theorist, she discovers that the Sims may not be alone in the Universe… and that those new beings may not be friendly.

Though aliens are no stranger to the Sims series, many fans flooded EA’s social media sites with annoyance that the new drop was unrelated to the highly anticipated and updated version of the much beloved University expansion pack. However, some fans, including myself, were on the edge of the seat during this drop. So, let’s take a minute and break down this new trailer and see what we can deduce about this new game.

8 8. We Know: We Have Seen This Town Before

Via Business Times

Fans were incredibly quick to note that this is not the first time that a similar town has appeared in the Sims series. A desert town known for its alien attractions and abductions was included in the three base worlds that came with the second installment of the Sims series.

This town was filled with strange goings-on and even had similar ties to the extraterrestrials that often terrorized science minded Sims who made the mistake of stargazing after dark. Though the addition of the “-er” to the end of this new towns name seems to imply that we are getting a bigger, better, and stranger version of this original town.

7 7 We Know: Based Upon In-Universe Conspiracy Theories

Via SimsVIP

The inclusion of the conspiracy theorist type character shows that conspiracy theories will play a big role in this upcoming pack. And, honestly, it’s about time. Sims have been disappearing (e.g. Bella Goth in The Sims 2,) male Sims have birthed Alien babies after late night abductions, and household items have been mysteriously upgraded or sold during the night for literal years in the Sims world.

There is no way that all of that has gone unnoticed. The fact that they included the conspiracy theorist in the trailer shows that EA is going to break that fourth wall and finally address (in-game) some of the more bizarre aspects of the Sim World.

6 6 We Know: Aliens Will Play A Major Role

Via Critical Hit

As players, we know that Aliens are nothing new when it comes to the Sims. But this new trailer has made me wonder whether or not such things are common knowledge to the Sims themselves.

From the inclusion of the conspiracy theorist as well as the “Men in Black” type figures in the official launch trailer, it is obvious that not every Sim believes the tales of their fellow Sims being abducted during the night. The fact that Aliens are a playable race with human disguises in The Sims 4 just shows that this pack has been a long time coming. I wonder if the playable aliens will be affected.

5 5 We Know: The Miltary Will Be Key

Via Critical Hit

Pretty much every single Sim seen in the trailer was wearing some sort of military regalia or uniform at one point or another. Which makes it pretty clear that the military is going to play a big role in this pack.

The fandom seems split on whether or not the pack will be taking the MK Ultra (mind experiments performed on American citizens by the government) or an Area 51 (secret alien base) direction. But, judging from the trailer, it seems like both paths are on the table due to both the desert local and the presence of “Men In Black” like figures as well as the crazed and dazed expression on the faces of affected Sims.

4 4 We Know: A Story Based Experience

Via SIms Online

Unlike other Sims games and expansions of the past which simply integrated another element of play into an established open concept life simulator, the trailer for this pack indicates that there is a clear storyline which is being brought into the game.

Rumors have been floating around forums stating that new packs will provide an entirely new angle to gameplay in coming months and this trailer seems to confirm that. The trailer provides a clear story arc related to the discovery and infiltration of these alien elements which seems to contrast with the established style of the game but reminds us of the quest based structure of the cult favorite Medieval addition to the Sims series.

3 3 Theory: It Will Not Affect Regular Gameplay

Via PC Gamer

Though it cannot be confirmed nor denied through the trailer in which we have been given alone, many fans believe that the story and events that are included in this pack will not affect normal gameplay. Legacy families will not suddenly become mind controlled drones and aliens working at the local hospital will, most likely, not abandon their post to join their alien overlords.

Theoretically, there is no need to worry about current or established households within the game as the pack looks to be like a side adventure in a new world that would not affect existing storylines.

2 2 Theory: Cults May Come Into Play

Via Sims Community

The dazed look upon the affected Sims has made many fans wonder if a mind control element will be included in this game and if such things would (or could) be used to establish cult-like situations and storylines within the game.

There have been many attempts and Mods created by fans to bring such elements into the game but a more official version of such a long-awaited and dark idea would certainly be something worth getting excited over. I wonder if players will be able to control the mind control device or if it will simply be an element of a quest based storyline.

1 1 Theory: A New Way of Living May Be Coming

Via TG

One of the most exciting yet mundane packs to have ever been brought into the Sims series was the Apartment Living pack that was released for the second installment of the game. It was an entirely new concept at the time and it added a lovely touch of realism to the series.

Though apartments have become a staple to the series since then, Apartment Living was the only pack to include official trailer parks. The trailer park, which can be seen at the beginning of the new pack's trailer, has made some players wonder if this alternative home lot is slated to make a comeback to the series. Or if it is simply a trick of the camera and is merely a single trailer on its own lot.

NEXT: 30 HIDDEN DETAILS IN THE SIMS 4