EA continues to “develop” The Sims 4 with a new virtual currency and “Creator” program.

EA is adding some big changes to Sims 4: Later this month, it will introduce an in-game marketplace where users can purchase items made by creators using a new in-game currency called “Moola.” These announcements represent another big shift in the game It becomes free to play in 2022.

Creators who want to sell in-game items must be part of the new Maker Program, which will be open for applications starting March 5. EA will introduce a “Maker Suite” that “provides clear tools, resources and guidance” to ensure that content created by creators performs well when it’s already in the game.

In the marketplace, makers will be able to list their creations as “Maker Packs” that people can shop for. Users will be able to purchase “Moola” currency that they can spend on items in the Market, and EA says Makers will earn about 30 percent Moola from any Maker Packs sales.

EA is covering all overhead for creators who want to publish and sell their in-game items, and content available in the marketplace will be “reviewed” to ensure it is “safe, compatible, and appropriate for game evaluation,” EA says. Creators can still offer free content or early access across other platforms, but anything available elsewhere is not “eligible” for sale on the official marketplace.

The marketplace will launch on PC and Mac on March 17, and will arrive on PlayStation and Xbox “in the next couple of months.”

“At its core, the marketplace is about giving you more choices, and supporting creators whose creativity continues to shape the way we all play Sims“,” EA explained in a blog post. “as Sims As we continue to evolve, our focus remains the same: celebrating self-expression and building the future together as a community.”