That a 3 is en route, remains beyond doubt, but how soon we'll get the sequel and what it will comprise most assuredly is. We also have a reasonable suspicion that design firms Gamma Ray and Feng Zhu are involved in some fashion, because they told us so on their official websites, before pulling the mention when it became apparent that hadn't even officially confirmed the new game's existence. Certainly, the two respective mentions of the Sims 3 have got fans more than a little excited, but EA have moved quickly to denounce the idle speculation, stating that "until EA announces that a new Sims game is in the works, any speculation would be premature." So there you go.

Of course, given that developers are already at least considering another title (we read an interview with them recently, speculating over likely inclusions in the third game, based upon Sims 2 expansion packs), we reckon we might learn more at E3 in May, though possibly nothing sooner. That the series remains the PCs best-selling franchise by some margin, we're sure EA have extensive plans in place for numero three nay number four too. A case of when, not if, then.

By Luke Guttridge