Maxis Reveals Why The Sims 4 Loading Screens Are Taking Longer Initially

My game usually took like 10-15 seconds to load the main menu after the game intro, but currently it's taking more than a minute to load it.

Initially I thought it could be related to mods, but even after removing all mods and repairing the game, it's still taking this unusual long time to load the main menu

This started happening after the June 30th update, prior to that my game was loading quicker.

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Hey Simmers,

We’ve seen some questions about changes to loading times since our July update, and wanted to share exactly what’s happening under the hood.

We’ve changed where and when the game loads its core data. While getting to the Main Menu will now take a bit longer when you first launch the game, your loading screens once you are actively playing (like traveling between lots) will be noticeably shorter.

Previously, the game would load to the Main Menu, then perform heavy loading tasks in the background during your gameplay transitions. We have shifted things so that Python is fully initialized right at the start. By "front-loading" this process before the Main Menu, the game does the heavy lifting up-front. Once you press 'Play', your actual gameplay session will feel smoother, with faster transition times between worlds, lots, and zones.

You should not see initial load times longer than 1 to 2 minutes because of these changes. If you are experiencing initial boot-up times that exceed this 2-minute mark (especially on vanilla/unmodded saves), we want to hear from you.

The Sims Direct Team on EA Help

• Improved memory management during gameplay
• Reduced lag and performance slowdowns
• Improved frame rates and responsiveness
• Greater stability during extended play sessions
• Reduced risk of memory-related crashes
• Reduced loading times

Before the update a user may report the game loaded within 20min for their content and 'after' the update it now loads past 1 hour - which is not normal behavior. It's this front loading behavior that is causing a huge issue for PC legacy players.

And it is not fair to place blame onto the player and ignore how game engine optimization actually works.  The community's frustration is justified because the June 30th patch fundamentally broke how the game handles asset loading on a structural level.

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