With EA’s annual summer showcase underway down in Redwood Shores, CA, we’re getting bombarded with press releases. One of the first to cross our desk is an announcement for a new expansion pack in the Sims franchise: The Sims 3 Late Night.

The press release tells us that the new expansion introduces a downtown to the town map where Sims can go and “rub elbows with celebrities” at parties, “hit the local bar after work,” or tour “with their Sims’ band,” and do other stuff rich or drunk people might do in downtown after dark. The addition of celebrities and bands seems like the most significant gameplay update along with a real playable vampire trait (whereas before, it was an appearance effect only), but expect tons of new items as well.

The Sims 3 Late Night is due out worldwide in fall 2010. Here, have some screens:

The Sims 3 gets Late Night expansion -- no, not the TV show
The Sims 3 gets Late Night expansion -- no, not the TV show
The Sims 3 gets Late Night expansion -- no, not the TV show
The Sims 3 gets Late Night expansion -- no, not the TV show
The Sims 3 gets Late Night expansion -- no, not the TV show

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