As a result, reviewers were unable to review the game, labeling the launch a 'disaster' and the game 'unplayably broken', urging players to avoid purchasing the game until the issues were resolved. These issues included network outages, problems with saving progress and difficulty connecting to the game's servers.

Prior to release, SimCity received positive reviews however, the game's launch was received negatively due to widespread technical and gameplay problems related to the mandatory network connection for playing and saving game data.

Throughout its development, SimCity received critical acclaim for its new engine and reimagined gameplay however, publications cautioned the game's mandatory use of a persistent internet connection, which enables cloud saves and multiplayer functionality, allowing cities to trade and share resources. SimCity uses a new engine called GlassBox that allows for more detailed simulation than previous games. Players can create a settlement that can grow into a city by zoning land for residential, commercial, or industrial development, as well as building and maintaining public services, transport and utilities. A macOS version was released on August 29, 2013. Released for Microsoft Windows in early March 2013, it is a reboot of the SimCity series, and is the first major installment since the release of SimCity 4 a decade before. SimCity is a city-building and urban planning simulation massively multiplayer online game developed by Maxis Emeryville and published by Electronic Arts.

Sim city global rankings