Ahead of the release of the new Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack, we’re getting a big update to the Sims 4 base game. This will be available for PC/Mac and console on the 3rd of February.
Here we will break down how to prepare for the update, as well as what you can expect.
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What To Expect This February
Base Game Update: A big update for the base game is coming to get ready for the new pack release as well as the new login event coming at the beginning of the month.
Community‑Prioritised Fixes: The team will focus on issues with the highest votes, as these issues are likely to be affecting a large proportion of the players. If you want to vote on fixes you want to see prioritised you can do this on the EA forum.
Information for Mod Creators: If you are a mod or CC creator, you can find all of the Python notes for the latest patch here to help you see which of your mods are going to be affected by the new Sims 4 update.
What’s Coming In The Sims 4 Update?
As well as bug fixes and general updates to the game, we typically get a base-game update that aligns with a theme or feature of the new Expansion Pack – like the introduction of platforms when Snowy Escape was released or bunk beds with Dream Home Decorator.
Based on February 2026 pre-patch notes and the announcement of the new pack, the major feature being added to the base game is an overhauled and expanded family tree system.
On February 3, we’re rolling out an exciting Base Game update that introduces expanded and improved functionality for family trees, genealogy, and relationship data. These updates enhance how Sims’ family connections are tracked and displayed, and we’re looking forward to sharing more details with you very soon.
Because this update makes changes to core game systems, our testing has shown that some mods – particularly those that extend or interpret family and relationship data – will be affected. This could appear as missing relatives, unexpected relationship changes, or family trees that don’t reflect what you expect. In rare cases, these issues could negatively impact your save.
Game Fixes
The latest Sims 4 Laundry List announced on social media and their website, we can see that the main repairs they are focusing on are ones with the most community upvotes, including the bug which led to a lot of photos turning black after a recent update and smaller issues like upgraded vacuums not working off the grid.
They also emphasised that improving save file integrity was a top priority.
New Login Event Content
We’re getting a new login event themed around the new Royalty & Legacy Expansion pack, which promises to bring back some of the in-game quests to unlock different items and rewards.
Because this is adding things like new aspirations and objects, these will have to be added in the update coming up, so you’ll have to make sure your game is fully updated before you start trying to unlock rewards.
How To Prepare For A Sims 4 Update
Following these tips will mean that you no longer worry when updating your game.
Back Up Your Save Files
This is probably the most important thing you can do ahead of a large update.
Regular backups are crucial to prevent data loss due to system crashes, hardware failures, or issues with mods or custom content, so it’s always important to ensure you back up your save files before any significant changes to your game. That includes base game updates.
To back up your Sims 4 save files, follow these steps:
Navigate to the save files location. If you are on a Windows PC the file path should be: Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Saves.
Copy the save files you want to back up. The names of the save files are all numbers, but the most recent ones you’ve created should be the highest number. If you’re worried about not backing up the ones you need, copy all of your saves.
Paste the copied files into a new and secure location, such as an external hard drive or USB stick. It’s also a good idea to name the backup folder to include the date of the backup for easy identification.
If you need to restore a save, move the copied save files back into the Sims 4 saves folder and replace the existing files.
Checking and Testing Mods
Broken mods are an unfortunate consequence of a big update to any game, but there are things you can do to make it less stressful.
In a folder packed with mods and CC it is sometimes only one or two broken items that are causing problems, and finding it in your files can be a nuisance. Using the 50/50 rule is a good way to set your mods folder up for success and make finding broken content much easier. If you are having game errors and think custom content/mods are to blame, sometimes the only way to find out what’s causing it is by doing a 50/50 manual sort.
Essentially, the 50/50 method involves testing half your mods folder – then half again, and again, and again – until you weed out all the broken content that needs updating. You can also read ThatSimsLady’s explanation of this method here.
Make three new folders outside your mod folder called ‘Tested clear’, ‘Tested broken’ and ‘untested’
Move all your mods to the untested folder
Delete your thumcache file – this is a package file that can be found in your Sims 4 documents folder. You’ll need to do this each time you run a new test for your mods/cc.
Move half of your untested mods back to the mods folder, and open the game. If you use MC Command Centre then this is a good one to test straight away, as it will alert you to any broken content/exceptions. If an error is found, test each new mod/cc you’ve added until you find the broken one, then add it to the ‘tested broken’ folder.
Keep going with this method until you’ve found all the content that needs updating.
You should ideally also test your mods in a new save, and not save your game while you are testing these.
If you are using the 50/50 method to check your mods, make sure that you:
Never separate mod files from the same mod. That might seem obvious, but if you separate mod files and then in testing they show as broken, it’s more than likely going to give you a false positive.
Take note of any mods that rely on each other. If you, for example, use lots of mods that rely on an XML injector, and then separate these from it, this might be the reason they don’t work, rather than a patch update.
Countdown to The Sims 4 Update Release
The upcoming Sims 4 Update is set to release on February 3rd, 2026 across Computer and Console supported platforms. The expected release time for the update is 10AM PT / 7PM CET / 6PM BT. We’ve also made things simpler with an easy countdown below.
Find out when the next Sims 4 Update release is in your area and brace your save files and Mod folders for impact:
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Countdown to The Sims 4 Base Game Update
Will you be getting ready for the upcoming Sims 4 Update drop? Let us know in the comments down below and stay tuned on Sims Community for the latest info about the patch drop!
The Controversial Joint Buyout of Electronic Arts Has Sparked Scrutiny From U.S. House Members Over Its Potential Industry Impact
46 House Democrats have signed a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the United States financial regulator, raising concerns about the labour impacts that the controversial EA buyout could lead to. They argue that the deal, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and private-equity partners, could further destabilise an industry already hit by mass layoffs, studio closures, and shrinking job opportunities. The lawmakers want the FTC to examine whether the takeover would give the new owners even more power to set wages, cut staff, close studios, or consolidate roles across the United States gaming sector.
The letter also highlights EA’s existing influence over game development labour markets, warning that a buyoff of this scale could worsen conditions for workers at a time when many studios are struggling to stay afloat.
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U.S. House Members’ Letter on EA Buyout: In Full
Below you can find the full letter signed by the 46 House Members. You can access the footnotes here.
Congress of the United States
Washington, DC 20515
January 22. 2026
The Honorable Andrew N. Ferguson Chair of the Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Dear Chairman Ferguson,
We are writing to express serious concerns regarding the proposed acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, and private equity firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. We are committed to preserving fair, competitive labor markets and safeguarding American jobs, and given the impact of this acquisition on workers, labor market concentration, and the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. video game industry, we urge you to thoroughly review this transaction.
Workers in the video game industry are already navigating an environment marked by instability, shrinking opportunities, and repeated rounds of layoffs. EA is one of the largest employers of video game workers in the United States, and evidence suggests the company already wields significant wage-setting power. For example, EA’s own disclosures show a steep decline in median worker pay year-over-year. This indicates that the company may already face limited competitive pressure to retain or reward talent. Compounding that issue, EA has eliminated more than 1,700 U.S. jobs since 2023, contributing to an industry-wide total of over 35,000 layoffs since 2022. These trends are deeply concerning as they signal a labor market where workers already have fewer alternatives and employers can impose deteriorating conditions without consequence.
Additionally, we are concerned that the proposed buyout is expected to be financed with at least $20 billion in debt, which creates strong incentives for the acquiring firms to pursue further cost-cutting measures, including layoffs, offshoring, restructuring, or studio closures. These actions would not only jeopardize thousands of high-skilled American jobs, but also further concentrate already fragile labor markets for software engineers, artists, writers, testers, and other professionals whose skills are essential to the industry.
We are also concerned that the transaction could expand EA’s labor-market dominance by combining the company’s already substantial share of employment in the video-game industry with new avenues for vertical integration and cross-industry leverage. The proposed buyers hold extensive ownership stakes across sports leagues, sports-betting platforms, talent management, and game-development tools. For example, Silver Lake’s ties to WME and TKO, along with PIF’s ownership of LIV Golf, would put EA under the same umbrella as major sports and entertainment brands that its games rely on for key licenses.
This level of cross-ownership presents risks of self-preferencing and anticompetitive coordination across these sports, sports-related talent, and sports-related video game business lines. This could, consequently, restrict worker mobility and reduce bargaining power for employees throughout the industry.
Finally, the FTC’s 2023 Merger Guidelines make clear that mergers harming workers, suppressing wages, or enabling dominant firms to reduce labor demand may violate antitrust laws. Given the scale of this acquisition and EA’s current dominance over the domestic video-game labor market, we believe careful scrutiny of this deal is essential. The transaction also raises serious concerns about interlocking directorates and common ownership across competing game publishers. This kind of overlap heightens the risk of coordinated anti-labor practices, including wage suppression, hiring restrictions, or informal no-poach dynamics and could further weaken the already limited bargaining power workers have in this industry. These risks should weigh heavily as the Commission evaluates whether the acquisition would leave workers more vulnerable to coordinated or unilateral harms.
We respectfully urge the Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the labor market consequences of this proposed acquisition, including EA’s existing wage-setting power, the likelihood of post-transaction layoffs, the degree of labor-market concentration in relevant geographic and occupational markets, and the role of cross-ownership in shaping labor outcomes. Workers deserve a fair, competitive marketplace where their skills are valued.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
[Signatures]
What the Lawmakers Are Asking For
In their letter, the group of 46 House Democrats urge the Federal Trade Commission to launch a full review of the proposed EA buyout, saying they have “serious concerns regarding the proposed acquisition of Electronic Arts.” Their core concern is that the deal may deepen an already unstable labour landscape marked by layoffs and shrinking job security.
The lawmakers point to EA’s existing influence over wages and hiring in key development hubs, warning that a takeover of this scale could give the new owners even more leverage. The letter also raises alarms about the financing behind the deal, saying the expected debt load creates incentives for “further cost‑cutting measures, including layoffs, offshoring, restructuring, or studio closures.” They warn that such actions could jepordise thousands of high‑skilled jobs and further concentrate already fragile labour markets.
Why This Matters for The Sims and Maxis
The Sims is a big deal for EA. The franchise ranks as the companies secon best selling franchise, just behind FIFA/EA FC. The game requires large teams working on updates, bug fixes, DLC, and the next mainline iterations of the game. If the buyout results in tighter budgets, the franchise will be one of the first on the chopping block. The letter’s concerns about layoffs, offshoring and debt-driven cuts aren’t abstracts, but map directly onto the kind of work Maxis undertakes.
Lindsay Pearson – VP Franchise Creative
There is also a wider point about EA’s influence over wages and hiring. Maxis sits in development hubs where EA already shapes a lot of the job market. If ownership changes and that influence grows, it narrows options for the artists, designers, engineers, and QA teams whokeep The Sims alive. Lawkamers are essentially saying, if this deal goes through, the people making the games could end up with less stability than they do now.
The political scrutiny isn’t just about those who could be owning EA but about whether studios such as Maxis get the support they need, or whether they’ll be left dealing with the fallout of another round of corporate consolidation.
What are your thoughts on the labour impacts that EA could face post buyout? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to Sims Community for all the latest on the EA buyout.
As per usual, the developers of the early access life simulation game InZOI have released another update diary! From the Director and Producer, Hyungjun “Kjun” Kim, he discusses what has changed and what is coming to the nezt InZOI update since the previous update and the last video diary released.
Next InZOI Updates: Multitasking, Bicycles, Graphics, and More!
Similar to previous video diaries, the updates provided have been fairly straightforward but have focused on basic features of the life simulation in the base game, but with small details and additions being added for future new content. These updates are fairly short, typically ~2-3 minutes each, so they typically cover a small snippet of what is planned for the next InZOI update that will majorly change the game and add new content.
○ Two new updates to the multitasking process the team is working on
○ Zois can now interact with other zois while holding an object in their hand
○ Zois can now watch TV independently but together
○ Development is beginning on bicycle riding
○ Plans to include the ability for Zois to ride on the back of another zoi’s bike, but this will take time.
○ Family trees can now be saved to your computer as a local image.
○ Plans to begin development and implementation of a fame and social status system. One example provided is societal status dictating whether your zoi can enter VIP rooms at clubs or other public places.
○ Zois will now select more suitable cleaning tools based on if they are cleaning inside or outside.
○ Graphical improvements being made to the “very low” graphical preset, and Kjun recognized that many players utilize this graphical preset due to InZOI’s high graphical recommendations and requirements.
○ In Build Mode, the front facing arrow for objects is now clearer and easier to spot.
○ Improvements are being made to grid snap mechanics in Build mode to provide a more “fluid experience”. This will apply to furniture and certain structures.
○ Visual guidelines added for roofing and fences to assist with placement. You can now see through the material to know exactly where it is being placed on the grid or structure. It was noted that this may be helpful for a new roof type being added for Lunar New Year.
○ Pools can now be adjusted height-wise, allowing for extremely deep or extremely shallow pools, depending on player preference when building.
Kjun also expressed gratitude for all the players who have submitted bugs to fix, features to improve and add, and just new ideas to improve the base life simulation of InZOI. He heavily encouraged players to continue to do so, and placed emphasis on the community working together to build this game, especially since he now sees how vital it is to work on improving the basics instead of most resources being dedicated to pushing out more and more new content. Many features are pulled from player suggestions, especially since this is one of the first major competitors in this genre, so expect the next InZOI update to carry content suggested by players just like you!
Kjun’s Letter – January 30th, 2026
Looking at the calendar today, I can’t believe January is already coming to an end. Time is moving so fast that I can’t help but worry a little about whether we can finish inZOI within this year.
How about you—has 2026 been going the way you planned?
Thanks to my teammates on the inZOI team, I’ve been having a really exciting time developing the game. These days, I can genuinely feel the game getting better little by little, and that gives me a lot of energy. But… time still feels like it’s moving too quickly, and that part is a bit overwhelming.
While making this video, I realized we’re only now fixing some fundamentals that should’ve been improved sooner. That made me think about how frustrating it must have been for you all, and it’s pushing us to improve the basics faster and more thoroughly.
Going forward, I also want to find better ways to ask for your feedback more often—and more effectively. In particular, we’ve seen a lot of comments that the HUD takes up too much of the screen, so I’d like to prepare and share a new GUI concept and ask what you think. I’m also curious how much you’d enjoy being able to drive cars or ride bicycles anywhere in the game.
Lastly, I’m considering a broader refresh of the lobby experience—News / Discord / Canvas profiles / notifications—but changes like these can easily cause inconvenience, so I want to approach them carefully.
Still, we’ll make good use of our twice-a-week communication to ensure your feedback is reflected as much as possible.
We had another really enjoyable week of development here at the inZOI team.
Please enjoy the video, and have a wonderful weekend. Thank you!
– Producer & Director of InZOI, Hyungjun “Kjun” Kim
How do the weekly updates on InZOI’s background development and progress make you feel? Is there something you hope to see changes with, or possibly something you’re hoping to see added sooner rather than later? Anything you’re excited to see in the next InZOI update? Let us know! Make sure to follow The Sims Community to keep up to date on everything in the Life Simulation genre, and check in on InZOI’s official website for their roadmap and plans!
Allegedly the main focus for The Sims Project X right now is to create as much content as possible before the release.
What we’re about to talk about in this article is treated heavily as speculation and doesn’t include a confirmed viewpoint of behind the scenes developments. As we’ve mentioned in our previous talks of The Sims Project X, nothing has been officially confirmed so far by EA – at least not publicly.
Last week we wrote a report about an official private EA survey that mentioned the potential features of a new Sims single player game:
A new Sims single-player life-sim game for PC and console, where players create unique Sims, build imaginative spaces, and shape stories that unfold across lively open neighborhoods. Designed to feel vibrant, expressive, and endlessly creative, it’s a living world where every Sim, relationship, and choice leaves a lasting mark.
The survey also mentioned new features talks of a possible new MySims game. EA bundled all of this together under the “possible future The Sims games” category, which coincides with the new speculation we have about The Sims Project X. And how everything regarding this game is still being subject to change and further playtesting as we move into 2026 and beyond.
New Speculation on The Sims Project X
An ATRL user provided additional talks and speculation info on what’s been going on behind the scenes with the alleged development of The Sims Project X. Taking everything with a grain of salt, the new Project X information covers information about the game being in a “gathering feedback” stage and considerations of selling existing Expansion Packs as “Remastered EPs” for Project X. The post concluded with talks of current focus by the development team on Project X – which is making the game “attractive enough to justify purchasing and moving over from TS4”.
So the thing about Project X is that they’re actively figuring out what to do with it. Nothing is set in stone; they are still researching everything, gathering feedback, and constantly changing their minds.
Without sharing too much, the basic idea was to carry over some existing gameplay from EPs as “remastered” packs that you’d have to buy. However, more fundamental, general, and universal features from existing packs would be integrated into the new base game. Cosmetic assets would also carry over based on what you already own in The Sims 4.
The thing is, as I mentioned, everything is in flux. In the end, this months old plan could evolve or be ditched altogether. Right now, the main pressure is on making this new base game attractive enough to justify purchasing and moving over from TS4, and that includes the actual launch content. This will likely affect the balance of how much content is ported directly into the new base game versus how much is “re-sold” as DLC.
Back when the initial speculation about The Sims Project X started we had talks of a “Sims 4 Remastered“ approach, which sounds like something the team has considered with the new talks of Remastered Expansion Packs for a new base game entry. The only thing that’s questionable is how would reselling the same remastered pack for a new game be received by players and would there be any benefits in actually doing so. Considering that the source mentioned that the team is “constantly changing their minds”, it’s best that you don’t take this information as confirmations of anything.
But for now, the speculation concludes that that’s the exact goal of the current roadmap for The Sims Project X. Which is to create as much content as possible before the alleged first release.
When asked about if we’ll get another scenario with missing life stages like we did with The Sims 4 in 2014, the source replied with this:
Question: Will we have infants and toddlers at launch? Will they add pre-teen stage life?
Answer: All life stages are planned to be included in the base game. Pre-teens are not part of their plans.
What are your thoughts on the new Sims Project X speculation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to Sims Community for the latest talks of Sim Town!
The recent update to The Sims 4, adding some bug fixes (and new bugs) to the game, also contained a collaboration with Coach New York, the United States luxury fashion house, known widely for their purses, bags, and clothes bearing their logo and brand iconography. In collaboration with The Sims 4, Coach New York assisted with the creation of six new Create-A-Sim assets, as well as three Build/Buy mode assets. The Create-A-Sim items include two bottoms, three tops, and a pair of shoes, and the Build/Buy mode assets include a recolor of the costume trunk included in The Sims 4 Lovestruck, as well as two decorative purses inspired by Coach’s Tabby and Brooklyn bag designs.
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Brand Collaborations and The Sims
When it comes to real-world brand collaborations, The Sims mainline franchise and other entries have a long and varied history in this case, including instances like The Sims 4 x Moschino and The Sims 3: Katy Perry Sweet Treats. This collaboration is no different, with wide and varied opinions from the community. These include some liking the introduction of new assets with input from real-world fashion influences, though some feel it was a bit misplaced with the collaboration including purses… that cannot be worn by Sims… because Sims cannot wear purses without mods or custom content.
Another bit of contention is that the Create-A-Sim items that contain text contain both English and Simlish swatches. While some players don’t mind or prefer to have items in-game with English on them, as they are often recognizable or reminiscent of real-world clothing items, a lot of players don’t enjoy seeing English or other real-world and recognizable languages on in-game assets, with the primary reason being due to it becoming repetitive. A lot of players also don’t like the lack of choice here; Both English and Simlish swatches share items, so there’s not really a way to avoid them appearing or generating on Sims in your game if you prefer one or the other.
AorticSims, a creator mostly known for swatch overrides and recategorizer mods, caught wind of this and created a bit of agency for Sims PC players, creating two versions of an override that shows ONLY the English or ONLY the Simlish swatches in Create-A-Sim.
To add the items to your game on Windows, follow this folder path: C:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods To add the items to your game on MacOS, follow this folder path: Macintosh HD/Users/User/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Mods
Once you’ve downloaded the files, make sure you have an extraction program installed. These can include 7Zip, Winrar, etc. After that, highlight one or multiple zipped/compressed files and select “Extract Here”. Drag the extracted contents to your Mods folder. You can also sort them into their own folders within your Mods folder, but it is recommended to not nest them too many levels deep as it can cause longer loading times, and some CC items and mods stop working when too deep within folders.
Tip: While many creators provide additional files, like .txt/ReadMe, .jpg/.png files, and more possible file types for previews or instructions, it is best practice to not put those into your Mods folder as they can also lead to longer load times and excessive clutter. Creators will often specify any files that need to be put into the folder, along with where, so primarily focus on .package and .ts4script files!
Sims 4 Coach in Simlish OR English CC Override by AorticSims
For players that want some sort of control with what languages and visuals appear in their game, AorticSims created a CC override for the Create-A-Sim items in the Coach x The Sims 4 collaboration, limiting the swatches to either ONLY English or ONLY Simlish, since the items provided in Create-A-Sim came with options for either.
As a personal opinion, I also find that using real-world languages in the Sims, whether it is in English or another recognizable language, tends to be a tad distracting, repetitive if the items are used multiple times while playing, or they tend to pull me away from the immersion of “Life Simulation where I control everything and the real world doesn’t really matter”.
Do you have any sort of opinion on real-world languages, like English, appearing in The Sims 4, whether positive or negative? Does it really not matter to you? Let us know! We love to cover mods and CC to add new options for Sims 4 PC Players, so feel free to let us know if there’s anything you’d like us to cover!
Merging Urban Homage and Artist Studio Kits, you can get the two for the price of 7USD.
We’re back with a report about a third Limited Kits release titled The Sims 4 Creative Sparks Bundle. This Kits Bundle merges The Sims 4 Urban Homage CAS Kit and The Sims 4 Artist Studio Build Kit into an exclusive deal offer of 7USD – or a price equivalent to your local currency.
Take a look at where you can get the latest Limited Bundle of Kits and what it features:
Combine creative spaces and iconic styles with The Sims 4 Creative Sparks Bundle; featuring The Sims 4 Urban Homage Kit and The Sims 4 Artist Studio Kit. Simmer Ebonix collaborated on a collection of expressive clothes and accessories that might be the perfect match for the artful clutter of your Sim’s lived-in studio.
KEY FEATURES:
Styles for the City — These modern looks are inspired by a time and place near and dear to Ebonix. They’re bold, unapologetic, and reflect a style Ebonix wanted to share with the Simmer community.
Forward Facing Throwbacks – Embrace a medley of stand-out colors and lively patterns! Iconic graffiti shirts, a bright bodysuit, and glamorous nails are just some of the options your Sim has for self expression.
An Artist’s Tools – Give your Sims more ways to express their creativity. There’s a new easel, tablet, and woodworking table for Sims to use in their artistic endeavors. Place inspiring still-life references, a backdrop, and other props to really help your creativity flow.
Artful Décor – Add an artistic flourish to your canvas and your studio. Add paint splatter to the ground and clutter items like palettes, cans, tubes, brushes, and stacked sketch books to every shelf and corner.
Bundle Screens
Kit Bundle Availability
You can get the latest Sims 4 Limited Kits Bundle from the following official online retail stores:
As previous two releases this month, this The Sims 4 Limited Kits Bundle release is expected to last for the next 7 days. Meaning that the deal and bundle is expected to expire on March 5th, 2026 at 10AM PT. To make things a little simpler we’ve included a handy countdown below to let you know how much time there’s left!
What are your thoughts on the latest Sims 4 Creative Sparks Kit Bundle? Do you plan to get it while the offer lasts or is it a pass until the next one? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned on Sims Community for latest limited Bundle releases!
From Lineage to Family Trees: Breaking Down Dynasty Features Seen in The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Gameplay Trailer
Another week, another trailer. The latest gameplay trailer for The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy gives us further insight into the dynasty features coming with the latest Expansion Pack, following on from last week’s reveal, which focused on nobility gameplay. It highlights new dynasty features, including succession, inheritance and an overhauled family tree system, something players have been asking for for years. Based on what’s shown, here’s a closer look at the features we’ve spotted so far in the Royalty & Legacy gameplay trailer!
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Overhauled Family Trees
It’s about time the family tree feature got some love! Being one of the most notable dynasty features showcased in the gameplay trailer, it seems as though the layout of family trees will be expanded, giving us players more insight into how far back our families go, and marital status between Sims. This is something players have been asking for for years, particularly those who enjoy legacy style gameplay where family history actually matters! With clearer connections between ancestors, rulers and future heirs, the expanded family tree could finally give long-running families the sense of continuity and importance that dynasties are built on.
Dynasties Aren’t Just For Nobles
While The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy places a clear emphasis on nobility and ruling families, the gameplay trailer makes it equally clear that dynasty gameplay isn’t limited to crowns and tiaras. Several moments in the trailer highlight non-royal families engaging in the same long-term, generational systems, reinforcing the idea that dynasties are a playstyle rather than a social class.
Fan favourites, the Goths and the Landgraabs, are used as examples suggesting that wealth and influence can carry just as much weight as being nobility. Whether through social power or generational wealth, we can see that any household can choose to build a dynasty and set rules for our households to follow. It has been previously confirmed that players who own Royalty & Legacy will see tthat he Goth and Landgraab households will both have dynasty pre-sets if you start a new game, and the inclusion of Johnny Zest in the Landgraab family tree!
Dynasty Creation and Management
The gameplay trailer also introduces us to the brand new dynasty management screen, giving us direct control over how our household’s legacy is defined. When choosing to create a dynasty, in what looks to be a new panel, you can also view existing dynasties in your save file.
When creating a dynasty, you can choose a name, create a dynasty crest including the base and logo, pick skills that your members will focus on, and any ideals they live by (more on that next). This all suggests a more structured approach to generational gameplay, where family ideals and expectations can cause unpredictable rifts or bring your Sims closer together.
Prestige & Unity: Levelling Up
The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy also introduces Prestige and Unity, two metrics that determine how successful a dynasty truly is. Unity reflects how well dynasty members get along, encouraging players to maintain strong relationships between Sims. Prestige, meanwhile, appears to be tied to how faithfully your members live by the established values. By acting in ways that align with those ideals, players can unlock powerful perks. Together, these systems add a layer of long-term management, pushing players to balance interpersonal harmony with outward reputation, two things that may conflict, leading to conflict resolution being the only outcome.
Dynasty Ideal: Defining Your Clan
The aforementioned ideals appear to define dynasty identity. In the trailer, examples such as Passionate and Bold are highlighted, suggesting these ideals could influence how members approach relationships, careers, and hobbies. Rather than functioning like the individual traits we have all come to know, ideals appear to operate on a broader generational level, perhaps shaping behaviours across multiple Sims at once. If implemented successfully, this feature could allow different households to feel thematically distinct over time.
Perks of Being a Dynasty
Beyond ideals, the trailer also shows off the perk system, offering actual tangible benefits to families that build power and influence over time. Similar to celebrity perks from Get Famous, these perks can be unlocked by building prestige and giving bonuses to the members. Several perks are briefly showcased, including access to private tutors, career boots throuhg nepotism, and easier formation of alliances with other influential dynasties.
These perks appear to be designed to reward sustained synasty play, making it easier for prominent families to maintain their status across generations. Features such as private tutors suggest faster or more specialised skill development or better grades for younger Sims. Simplified alliances may encourage us players to think more carefully about who our Sims associate with and how the family influence is leveraged long term.
Securing the Dynasty: Selecting Heirs
Another key feature highlighted is the ability to formally name an heir, allowing players to decide exactly who will carry the legacy forward. This system helps ensure legacies continue as intended, rather than being left to chance or default succession rules.
However, being named heir isn’t guaranteed to go smoothly, as we see in the trailer. Sims are able to decline the role, seemingly influenced by factors such as poor relationships with the current leader. This adds a layer of drama to the whole ordeal. This could perhaps turn succession into an active gameplay moment rather than a passive status change.
Secrets & Scandals: Uncover and Exploit
A major highlight of the gameplay trailer is the secrets and scandals system, adding some intrigue to family gameplay. In the trailer, we see a Sim uncover a secret child that has come about as a result of a love affair. This secret can be discovered through what looks to be a new gameplay object, where Sims can research other family trees. The Sim can either choose to keep it a secret or exploit the subject of the scandal.
Scandals can be tracked from a new Scandals tab in the notebook, a feature often overlooked in The Sims 4. From here, you can see the complicit Sim, how long the scandal carries any weight, and the severity of the scandal. The existence of severity hints at the possibility of failing to exploit other Sims for silence regarding the rumour, with less severity meaning a lower chance of success in exploitation.
Dambele: Great Worlds Beautiful Worlds
While not a gameplay feature per se, the new neighbourhood of Dambele is undoubtedly one of the most unique neighbourhoods we have received in The Sims 4 thus far. We all know the Sims Team loves to place a massive tree somewhere in the world, this time it looks as though it is being used as a central meeting point for Sims to tell stories, or make speeches to their subject, or fellow citizens. The lots in this world were created by Emerald Stories and Studio Gabri, with consultation on creating the world by the Pan African Gaming Group (PAAG).
What are your thoughts on the dynasty features shown off in the latest gameplay trailer? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to Sims Community for all the latest on The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy.
Developers share insightful info tidbits for the upcoming Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion.
We’re already getting some new info tidbits about The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack!
Azure, Natalie, and Xènia are the new developers joining today’s official Discord Session for The Sims 4 Dynasty Gameplay Q&A. Following today’s official Gameplay Trailer release for dynasties, developers are giving us a closer look at how the new features function. Including new perks, social interactions and family tree improvements.
We’ve collected all the questions and answers from the developers in this handy recap down below. Check it out:
The Sims 4 Dynasty Gameplay Q&A With The Developers
Question: Can kids join a dinasty?
SimDevNat: Yes! They can be invited to any Dynasty started by their direct family members (parents, grandparents, etc)
SimDevAzure: Is there a cap on dynasty members? There’s no cap on Dynasty members. You can have as many members as you’d like. (The UI will show you 8 but you can add more members beyond that.)
Question: Is it possible to edit skills and values in a dynasty ever?
SimDevNat: Yes, the Head of a Dynasty can change the skills and ideals at any point. Although, some Sims may not be happy if you make a change that doesn’t align with their traits.
Question: Can you have a dynasty without being royalty?
SimDevNat: Yes! Any family can become a Dynasty.
Question: I’m sure you have a lot coming in but I was curious how inviting other households into your dynasty works? Are they now related to your Sim?
SimDevXènia: Yeah! They have to be related either by family ties or by marriage. If there’s a Sim you really want to be part of your family, you can always propose or adopt them.
Question: Is the scandal system only limited to dynasties or can other sims suffer them as well?
SimDevAzure: The Scandal System is not limited to Dynasties. The features are separate. Your Sims who aren’t in Dynasties can still have secrets/Scandals and extorts Sims etc.
Question: How do you earn the dynasty perks?
SimDevNat: As your Dynasty members follow the values and do aligned actions, the Dynasty will increase in Prestige Level. Each Prestige level gained grants points that you can spend on Dynasty Perks.
Question: Will there be any cross-pack dynastic ideals?
SimDevXènia: Yeah! All of the ideals cover all of base game and all the x-play that was eligible. The list is thorough
Question: Can you set a dynasty approved outfit like for example the panda suit from outdoor retreat?
SimDevXènia: No dynasty outfits </3, but you could always set up an additional outfit for them in CAS for all categories. Pandas everywhere!
Question: Are there any special dynasty perks related to occults?
SimDevXènia: We have a dynasty value entirely dedicated to occults! I’m a huge fan of occults myself, we always try to honor them. It’s called mysterious, and it’s perfect for supernatural families.
Question: Can there be a child of two dynasties? Like what happens if for example, The capps and the Monty have two heirs who marry, what dynasty will their child belong to?
SimDevNat: When a new baby is born to parents from different Dynasties, you’ll be able to choose which Dynasty you want them to join at birth.
Question: In the trailer, it shows only two options for if you discover a scandal: agreeing to keep it a secret or extorting the other sim (just like with secrets in For Rent). Is there not an option to reveal the scandal to everyone?
SimDevAzure: There are lots of options for Scandals. If your Sims discover another Sims secret they can expose it to the world (causing a Scandal) you can also extort for money, headship of the dynasty, or if the Sim is a Noble you can force them to abdicate.
Question: Will there be any cross-pack dynastic ideals?
SimDevAzure: Yes! The Ideals include encouraged and discouraged careers, activities and extracurriculars from past packs. Skills as well.
Question: They can create their own ‘merged’ dynasty I believe
SimDevNat: You can merge Dynasties when two members get married, creating a new Dynasty with a starting boost to Prestige based on the original Dynasties.
Question: Does this pack’s features have any cross overs with the political career at all
SimDevXènia: Yeah! if your politician Sim is in a Dynasty with the Diplomatic Value, they will gain more prestige for the family each time they go to work and rank faster within the Dynasty positions.
Question: Wait can you adopt adults now?
SimDevXènia: You can!
Question: So would this mean that vampires who are turned by your sim won’t be eligible?
SimDevXènia: They will be eligible. We have a soft spot for occults and always root for them. We’ve made the Vampire Offspring ‘relationship’ eligible for dynasty members.
Question: Will this all be retroactive to current saves or will we have to start new saves to have full play.
SimDevXènia: Retroactive! I playtested this with my 10 year old save file.
Question: My only question is, is it possible to import the new Goth / Landgraabs Dynasty into older saves? Want to play with the reworked households without restarting
SimDevNat: We can’t modify your existing saves, but if you like the values we chose you can recreate their Dynasties in your older saves.
Question: How does it work inviting other households into your dynasty? Do they automatically become related to your Sim?
SimDevAzure: Your Sims can only add other Sims who are related to them (by blood or by marriage) to their Dynasties. They can invite family members who live in other households to join their Dynasty.
Question: Can a sim be part of more than one dynasties?
SimDevXènia: No, just the one! But your dynasty can form alliances with any other dynasties that you consider a good match for your Sims
Question: Does a dynasty mean they’re a royal family or does or just mean an influential family
SimDevXènia: Just influential. You can have dynasts only, royals only or a combination of both. Play however you want
Question: Is it possible for one dynasty to have two or even more kingdom rulers? kinda like conquering the world?
SimDevNat: Yes! Dynasty membership is only restricted to family (not world, household or career) – so if you have family members who rule in different neighborhoods, they can all be in the same Dynasty.
Question: Is it possible to edit skills and values in a dynasty ever?
SimDevAzure: The Head of the Dynasty can edit the Dynasty Values (Skills and Ideals) at any time!
Question: Will we be able to have larger family trees with the new system and will there be vast overhaul or merely backend code upgrades to the family tree system?
SimDevXènia: The family trees look definitely larger. We visualize more Sims in the screen (both vertically and horizontally), and you have many new family ties categories. There will also be new frames for the portraits depending on their royal rank (if any), and special icons on top of the portraits reflecting their power dynamic within the family (leader, heir, outcast…)
Question: Yeah, like do you have to manually designate an heir or is it automatic?
SimDevXènia: Yes, it has to be manually chosen by players in the Heir slot. It’s not permanent, you can change it whenever you want
Question: will scandals/extortion automously happen to our sims from households we aren’t playing or can only the active household trigger them onto other sims?
SimDevNat: Extortion will only happen to Sims you’re playing (either through your Sims extorting others, or your Sims being extorted) but you can reveal the Scandals of Sims outside of your Household and see the effects happening to them.
Question: How can a sim discover scandals of other dynasties?
SimDevAzure: Sims can discover another Dynasties secrets by asking a Sim they both know if they know any secrets about the target Sim. You can also dig through trash, hack for secrets, exploring the secret passageway, asking the enchanted mirror, or buying secrets from the Info Brokers website.
Question: Can the “secret” children in dynasties be made in CAS or generated in-game like the long lost family members from Growing Together?
SimDevXènia: Not in CAS, it has to be in-game only! The ‘secrecy’ is generated upon birth, when you choose from a drop down menu who the ‘baby daddy’ will be
Question: Can we make our own kings/queens in cas.. and they will stay as king/queen if some of they’re children say no?
SimDevXènia: Regency is gain by working hard; so not in CAS, but playing through the career. (you can always use cheats though)
Question: If you’re a royal on the throne, can you hire a royal advisor? And if so can the advisor be a family member?
SimDevXènia: yes! (and yes)
Question: Do new family members get automatically put in the dynasties?
SimDevAzure: No, the Dynasty Head has to choose which family members to add to the Dynasty.
Question: I have the most important question of all the questions: Are Thebes and Capps related in Sims 4? (As they’re in Sims 2)
SimDevAzure: Yes.
Question: In the trailer, the option for someone to reject being the heir was shown. Is there something that triggers that or is it random?
SimDevXènia: There are a series of criteria taken into consideration for this outcome. I won’t say which, but it is not random
Question: Is a child only considered worthy of being an heir if the parents are married, or can a child born out of wedlock still become the heir?
SimDevNat: If the child is a member of the Dynasty, they can be set as the heir.
Question: Is a child only considered worthy of being an heir if the parents are married, or can a child born out of wedlock still become the heir? (Royality)
SimDevXènia: out of wedlock counts! they’re the heir… by BLOOD!
Question: How do alliances work? Can they only be forged by monarchs or dynasty heads?
SimDevNat: Only Dynasty Heads can forge Alliances with other Dynasty Heads. No other titles are required to become the Head as we wanted Dynasties and Nobility to work independently, depending on how you want to play.
SimDevXènia: Replying to the polyamory question (I’ve lost track of where it was, sorry!). Scandals take into consideration relationship boundaries, so if your Sim is in a polyamorous relationship, engaging romantically with others will /not/ be scandalous. Fun fact: we actually had to put Cordelia in a monogamous relationship so she could have a Scandal going on. She and Thiago were originally poly!
Question: Can the royals arrange marriages for their children like most do IRL?
SimDevNat: Dynasty members can be “Encouraged to Court” a specific Sim if your Dynasty Head is feeling like playing matchmaker. But it may not always go to plan!
Question: Can ghosts be the head of a dynasty?
SimDevXènia: of course, occult loooove! all occults welcome
SimDevAzure: Sorry I lost the question, but there are reward traits for the dynasty. You can buy reward traits that allow your progeny to inherit mental, physical, social, creative boosts.
Question: Is there anything you can tell us that hasn’t been a question yet?
SimDevXènia: that depends, how interested are you in scandals about secret babies
Question: Can famous sims interact with royal sims without causing scandal?
SimDevXènia: Meaning a celebrity chatting with a queen? They can, talking is not scandalous
Question: Is it extortion/secrets being revealed all player directed, or is there a chance a played sim can get extorted or get their secrets revealed by a NPC? This was kinda touched on before but I didn’t get a clear sense of it
SimDevNat: An NPC may call your Sim and threaten to extort them. If you don’t pay up or find another way to silence the extortionist, then that Sim’s Scandal will be revealed. (This can be turned off in settings)
Question: Can neighborhood stories create dynasties on its own, or is it sort of like clubs in that way?
SimDevAzure: No. Neighborhood Stories will not create Dynasties on it’s own.
Question: is every baby out of wedlock a scandal or only if one of the parents is married
SimDevNat: It’s only a Scandal if the pregnant Sim lies about the parenthood of the baby. Otherwise, a baby out of wedlock is not considered scandalous, and in the other case it would be the affair itself which is the scandal.
Question: Very interested! Spill the tea please!
SimDevXènia: If a Sim is pregnant from another Sim who does not match with the spouse is, there will be a dropwdown upon birth to ‘choose’ who the cannon baby daddy will be. There will be a series of interactions to deal (or not!) with that later, and it will potentially trigger a scandal as well
Question: Do the new families have scandals we can discover outside of Cordelia?
SimDevXènia: yes! pay attention to their notebooks. we curated their personalities as much as we could. we love lore
Question: Does a dynasty mean they’re a royal family or does or just mean an influential family
SimDevAzure: Influential. Dynasty and the Noble Career are separate (Dynasty gameplay does pair nicely with a family of Nobles though).
Question: What are the other ways to silence them?
SimDevXènia: There’s also an Information Broker that you can pay via the computer to ‘bury’ Sim secrets… And that Sim might be in the neighborhood as well, who knows
Question: This is so cool! Is that tied directly to the dynasty system, or can a “regular” family still have the drama?
SimDevNat: Scandals are for everyone! Bring on the drama
SimDevXènia: There’s a dotted line to the fake dad and one to the real dad if you access the UI from the sim who gave birth. If you access from either of the other SIms, you will only see their parenthood. Meaning, sims who know the truth will see it all, others sims will only see what they ‘know’
Question: What happens if a king from world A and a queen from world B get a child. (without moving in together) To which family will that child belong.
SimDevNat: The baby would join the household of the parent who gives birth to them, but you can choose which Dynasty they will join.
SimDevXènia: for those asking if the adopted sims will appear as adopted in the fam tree: it’s a setting! You can choose how you want it to display
Question: Can sims paint their dinasty crest and hang it on the wall?
SimDevNat: Kind of. There is a new crest wall decor object that you can put your motif onto, and your Sims could paint it from reference, if they wanted that hand-painted touch.
Question: If the monarch dies before the heir reaches adulthood, can the heir still take over as monarch king/queen? Considering its a career (royality)
SimDevXènia: They keep their title (almost cosmetically, since they cannot action on it til they are teens), but can claim it when they reach the age! That will let them jump into the career at level 10, effectively making them King, Queen or any custom title you prefer
Question: How does a sim have a secret baby?
SimDevAzure: Sims can have a baby with a Sim that is not their spouse and then lie to their Spouse about the parentage. This will create the Secret Baby relationship.
Question: Is the dynasty heir separate from the throne heir in the noble profession?
SimDevAzure: Yes
Question: I created a save years ago (you many know it as the Tales Of Yore Save) and this is literally my dream pack! I just wanted to know if it would be possible to have like an Emperor Sim who rules all the worlds (with monarchs still in each world). Probably not, but just wanted to confirm.
SimDevXènia: There is not a Sim who rules all worlds, HOWEVER…. in your case, you could create a Dynasty of Emperors and Empresses, and have each of them live in a different world. This way each of them can rule a region, but all share the same crest. That’s how I’d try to tell your story at least.
Question: Can any dynasty member go for the head of no hero is chosen
SimDevNat: Dynasty members who want to be Heir can ask (or even extort) their Head into choosing them as Heir. Or if they have specific values, they can challenge the Head for their position through a Chess Match, Duel or even a fight. Otherwise, any Dynasty member who is ranked higher than the Head can just Usurp the position!
Question: Can we hear more about The Noble Frog Prince?? Is there lore for him??
SimDevXènia: There is not a single prince or princess! They might not even have that rank. There are many noble frogs, and each have their own rank. Starting from level 4, which is already quite of a shortcut into the nobility career if you were to marry them!
Question: Is the green hood guy in the trailer the burglar???
SimDevXènia: Hahaha, yes! We have a new burglar with strong feelings for the ‘Tax the Rich’ motto. Low income Sims love them
Question: Life & Death crosspack question: Can we have one monarch that constantly occupies the throne in various incarnations of themselves.. A monarch lives and dies and reincarnates right back on their same throne –> Think of it as a Dalai Lama situation
SimDevNat: This sounds like a really fun story! There’s no direct way to “promise to inherit” to your unborn reincarnation, but if there was a spouse or adult child who could “hold” the title for you and promise it to your incarnation, then this could definitely work.
SimDevAzure: Can we pass headship of a dynasty/titles to a spouse/sibling/parent and declare them our heir if we don’t have children? Answer: You can pass the headship of the Dynasty to any Dynasty member (not just your kids). For Noble Titles you can promise to inherit a Noble Title to your kids or Spouse.
Question: I wanted to ask what Knights are, what they do, and how they are relevant to dynasties? Also the same for the Advisors?
SimDevXènia: Knight Sims are any Sim in the level 1 of the Noble Career. They can still get a noble advisor (any other Sim), and additionally be noble advisors themselves (to someone else). You don’t have to be a noble to be an advisor, but you can combine it if you want. I think around level 4 nobles gain the ability to Knight other Sims
Question: Omg! We getting R** H*?!
SimDevXènia: the very same. or at least, or re-imagined version of him. hope you like meeting them!
Question: will stepfamily and halfsiblings finally have proper relation tags?
SimDevXènia: yesssss
Question: Are there any dynastic criteria that can be linked to piracy?
SimDevNat: Personally I think the Bold and Vicious Dynasty Ideals would work well for a Pirate Dynasty
Question: When a character becomes a king, does his fame level automatically max out?
SimDevAzure: As Sims rise through the Noble Career their Fame will increase throughout the whole process.
Question: Family tree display settings …. Tell us more !!!! (please)
SimDevAzure: We will be having a family tree Discord qna soon!
Question: Can pets be in dynasties or royalty??
SimDevNat: If you have the Cats & Dogs expansion pack, your feline friends can certainly dress the part!
Question: How do secret passages work?
SimDevXènia: Passages do many things! Sims gotta inspect them first to find out shortcuts available, and those can be explored for Sims to appear ‘somewhere else’ where there is a Passageway as well. They can also serve as an /intimate spot/ for Sims, and be tampered with…
Question: Will Dynasties have their own heirlooms cross play like in life and death? Like if I want to have an heirloom that has been in the Dynasty forever could that be an option? Will we be able to have a scandal for breaking the heirloom blarfy?
SimDevNat: There’s no specific tie between Dynasties or Scandals and heirlooms, but players who have Life and Death can definitely tell some cool stories of items passed down through the Dynasty.
Question: Can you reveal examples of decrees?
SimDevXènia: Yes! For example, we have a decree called The Silver Charter that gives benefits to Elders. They no longer get ‘woohoo exhausted’ and have improved skill gain.
Question: Can we legitimise illegitimate children or at least partially recognise them somehow?
SimDevAzure: Secret Children can be discovered, the secret can be exposed and then everyone will know about them. The child can then be added to the dynasty.
Question: Can Passageways work like elevators, yes or no? This is very important to me lol. If I click go here will my sim automatically go to the Passageway (If theyve inspected them first)?
SimDevXènia: if you mean like Portals, yes!
Question: Thankyou! It’s a shame the sims have to inspect them first because otherwise they’d be so versatile but Im glad to know that they can be used as elevators! This is amazing.
SimDevXènia: We have a player facing cheat though – for builders!
Question: If you have for rent and this pack can you set up a castle with a butlers quarters and a maids quarters and a knights barracks?
SimDevXènia: I did playtest this with the butler from Vintage Glamour. But yeah you should be able to have staff in quarters with For Rent, what a great idea
What are your thoughts on the new Dynasty Gameplay coming with The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack? Let us know in the comments down below and stay tuned for all the latest Sims 4 News!
We’re back with more trailer screens from The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion pack, as we have an unprecedented second gameplay trailer before the pack launch in February.
Table of Contents
Before the trailer
Anyone watching live will see a female Sim wearing one of the new crowns fighting a Tragic Clown practice dummy, showing off the early purchase bonus items.
As well as this promotional image on screen before the premiere begins.
The Sims team often does custom countdowns for their premieres, and this one showed the same preview as the first announcement trailer. If you missed it, they’re here for you to enjoy.
Now, let’s break down all the key Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Dynasty screens from this gameplay trailer.
All Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Dynasty Screens
This trailer shows that we’re getting the ability to build a custom Dynasty, which will come with Perks, Values, Ideals and Prestige, as well as custom names and crests.
Here are all of the Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Dynasty screens, where these features and more were shown off in detail.
Watch the new gameplay trailer
You can watch the full Dynasty gameplay trailer here.
Do you think the gameplay for Dynasty’s looks exciting? Let us know below.
We’re looking for new authors for The Sims and Life Sim Games coverage!
The Sims Community website platform is looking for new creative talent to join the freelance opportunity of creating written content for The Sims and Life Simulation video games genre.
In case you haven’t noticed already, we’ve been working behind the scenes on improving the layout and updating the coding infrastructure in the backend. We didn’t want to keep you updated on any announcements about the template switch as we wanted to soft launch it and squash the initial bugs before moving onto future projects. One of the projects that I’m very excited about is expanding article and news coverage beyond to other game franchises. Including Paralives, InZOI and now Tomodachi Life 2 from Nintendo. We want to create a seamless experience of news, updates and original content for multiple Life Simulation Games franchises. As we’ve always done since the launch of this website, but this time with proper sectioning!
This is why we’re announcing a new subcategory on Sims Community called Life Sim Games. This section will house (pun intended) all the general news and information about all the Life Sim games that aren’t The Sims.
We want you to be in control of your news feed on your favorite life simulation genre games, and this solution is currently in development along with other site updates and maintenance for Sims Community.
There are going to be opportunities in the very near future to vote on which features you’d prefer to see added on this site and suggest your own feedback as we shape the website development. But for now, let’s talk about creating content for The Sims and Life Sim Games!
Join The Team Introduction
This is a freelance paid opportunity on a monthly basis to create original content and reports about The Sims and Life Simulation games. We’ve opened up several new freelance positions for the Sims Community website and LifeSim Games category. Down below you’ll find several freelance writing roles with descriptions, features and requirements. You can use the application right below the open roles to send in your team submission.
All applicants must be over 18 years old for online payment reasons.
Open Sims Community Team Roles (2026)
The Sims Player Stories Reporter
As a Sims Player Stories reporter your responsibility is to put all the drama and scandals that players have reported happening in their Sims game. You’re highlighting all the highs and the lows of everyday situations in The Sims games and know how to find hidden story and playthrough situation gems.
Your reponsibilities as a Sims Player Stories reporter include staying up to date on trending social community boards for all the gameplay stories and situations. Writing short and long content depending on the length of situation, you know how to put a spotlight and properly retell and credit the player’s story.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Write original Sims Player Stories ranging from main game entries (The Sims 4, The Sims 3 etc.) to Sims game spin-offs.
The author has to have a bookmark of all the trending sources of Sims player stories. We can provide with some navigational tips in the second rounds!
Whether it’s a random game scenario, glitch or new feature spotted, the author has to have the game and ability to recreate the scenario with a screenshot for purposes of occasional spotlight on our Social Media feeds.
We Expect From You:
Knowledge in writing English game content for online platforms.
Skills in capturing quality in-game screenshots and footage.
Ownership of at least more than half of the available Sims 4 Packs.
Ability to run The Sims 4 on High Graphics game settings on your computer.
What’s In It For You?
Monthly freelance fee based on the number and length of articles you’ve written (Will be discussed in the second round of applications)
A set of tools, documentation, and assistance to create your next Sims article masterpiece.
The Sims 4 Mods & CC Author
The world of mods in the Sims 4 community is getting bigger and more powerful with each day. With modders constantly bringing unique gameplay and feature improvements for the game, we thought it would be a good opportunity to put a bright spotlight on what’s been going on in the modding world. With a regular Sims 4 Mods author in our evergrowing Sims Community team!
Responsibilities for a Sims 4 Mods & CC author include covering detailed article news spotlights on big (and small) mod releases. With detailed guides and feature walkthroughs on staple Sims 4 Mods. As well as writing useful collection posts on past and future The Sims 4 CC set releases.
We’re also ocassionally covering Early Access coverage for new CC and Mod releases from Sims Creators.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Write original News and Guides on The Sims 4 Mods. Including new Mod releases and extensive walkthroughs on trending Mods.
Create original article lists that showcase Sims 4 CC based on a Household, Lot or Story Theme
Navigate players to interesting unofficial Mods and CC announcements / projects, with regular spotlights to other Sims Creators
Cover Early Access CC / Mods provided by Sims Creators
We Expect From You:
Knowledge in writing English game content for online platforms.
Skills in capturing quality in-game screenshots and footage.
Ownership of at least more than half of the available Sims 4 Packs.
Ability to run The Sims 4 on High Graphics game settings on your computer.
LifeSim Games: Tomodachi Life News and Gameplay Author
Own a Nintendo Switch 2 and interested in getting the game on April 16th, 2026? This is the role for you!
We’re looking for a LifeSim Games reporter interested in doing coverage on news and updates about the upcoming Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream release for Nintendo Switch. Including interest and preparation for gameplay guide coverage when the game comes out this April.
Your responsibilities as a Tomodachi Life News and Gameplay Reporter include staying up-to-date on all the official game updates and announcements, reporting on them and creating original guide content.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Write original news and gameplay content for Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream
Interest in doing retroactive coverage about the first series entry in the Tomodachi Life franchise
We Expect From You:
Knowledge in writing English game content for online platforms.
Skills in capturing quality in-game screenshots and footage.
Ownership of Nintendo Switch 2 and Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream game.
What’s In It For You?
Monthly freelance fee based on the number and length of articles you’ve written (Will be discussed in the second round of applications)
A set of tools, documentation, and assistance to create your next Sims article masterpiece.
LifeSim Games: InZOI Reporter
As a Reporter for video game InZOI your responsibilities will include coverage on both official updates, gameplay content and player stories. This includes previews of official InZOI game updates and roadmaps, development updates and Discord sessions. You also have the ability to run InZOI on your computer and do game guides on both essential and lesser known InZOI features. When there’s nothing happening much officially, you’ll dive deeper into what the InZOI community has been talking about on active social media community boards and reporting on interesting player stories!
Roles and Responsibilities:
Cover regular news and updates on InZOI.
Create original content and guides based on InZOI game features.
Produce community-driven articles for InZOI. Including User Generated Creation (UGC) spotlights and custom content.
Cover InZOI player stories and interesting gameplay highlights.
We Expect From You:
Knowledge in writing English game content for online platforms.
Skills in capturing quality in-game screenshots and footage.
A thorough understanding of InZOI and its features.
Ability to run InZOI on at least Medium Graphics game settings on your Windows PC.
What’s In It For You?
Monthly freelance fee based on the number and length of articles you’ve written (Will be discussed in the second round of applications)
A set of tools, documentation, and assistance to create your next InZOI article masterpiece.
LifeSim Games: General Life Simulation Games Reporter
As a General Life Simulation Games Reporter you’ll be working on both spotlighting new indie and publisher game releases that revolve around life and city simulation. You’re also a player reporter on all the engaging content and adventures from Sims creators who have departed covering The Sims and are covering other game franchises. Putting a spotlight on positive life simulation creator stories and endeavours!
Roles and Responsibilities:
Cover regular news and updates on interesting Life Sim and City Sim games from different game publishers and indie studios.
Do player reports about ex-Sims creators who are trying different simulation games and engage a healthy discussion in your article reports.
Spotlight new creators and custom creations in the Life Simulation Games genre; whether it’s from InZOI, Paralives, UGC content for Tomodachi Life / Animal Crossing and others.
We Expect From You:
Knowledge in writing English game content for online platforms.
Skills in capturing quality in-game screenshots and footage.
A thorough understanding of multiple Life Simulation game series.
Ability to run InZOI on at least Medium Graphics, Paralives and optionally have the consoles required for Nintendo Life Sims.
What’s In It For You?
Monthly freelance fee based on the number and length of articles you’ve written (Will be discussed in the second round of applications)
A set of tools, documentation, and assistance to create your next Life Sim article masterpiece.
Suggest your role!
Whether it’s Sims influencer news or original let’s play articles, we’d love to hear if you’d have a role perfect for the Sims Community team! Our 4th position is open to anything that you could think of related to writing about The Sims, InZOI and Paralives at the moment.
How To Apply
Down below is the Sims Community Freelance Team Application form. Where you can input your name, email and preferred team role that we suggested above. You’ll need to provide an article example of the content you want to create for Sims Community. Here are our tips to get you started:
Choose a Team Role: Select one of the four Sims Community team roles listed above.
Write an Article: Craft a 300 to 600-word article on your chosen team role topic. Ensure it captures the essence of your writing style.
Include Screenshots: Enrich your article with in-game screenshots that complement your content. Screenshots provide a visual context, making your article more engaging and relatable.
Upload the Article Sample as a document file to Google Docs / Microsoft Word online / Dropbox / Weshare / other document sharing solutions. Include the link of your uploaded file in the submission form below!
Write a short introduction message about yourself.
Sims Community Freelance Team Application Form
[contact-form-7 id=”8002b50″ title=”Join The Team Submission 3″]
The deadline for sending in your Sims Community team application is on February 9th, 2026 at 10AM Pacific Time. Which is when we’ll be removing the Team Application Form above. If the application form doesn’t work for you, you can send your application directly to our contact@simscommunity.info email with all the required details.
We’ll make sure to inform all applicants who’ve applied properly using the form above about their status in the week after through our e-mail response. As always, stay tuned on Sims Community for regular updates on current and future team applications!
The second trailer for The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack hits today!
EA and Maxis are releasing a new The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Dynasty gameplay trailer today – January 29th, 2026. This is a second gameplay trailer after last week’s Nobility Gameplay Trailer came out. There’s already an introduction blog on Dynasties that will help you warm up for new gameplay feature reveals today!
Do it all for the plot. Build a powerful Dynasty, take advantage of Perks, and be the powerhouse family everyone wants to keep up with. Any Sim (Young Adult or over) can start their own Dynasty, complete with a custom name and crest. A Dynasty dominates through devotion to shared Values, which are set when the Dynasty Head chooses up to 3 skills and 3 Ideals. When members show that they align with these values – like by joining relevant careers, working on the right skills, or performing related interactions – the Dynasty’s Prestige goes up.
The higher the Prestige level, the more the Dynasty can take advantage of Perks, like private tutors or Nepotism. When a Sim in a Dynasty does things that conflict with the Dynasty Values, Prestige can go down. Prestige can also take a hit when a member is at the center of a Scandal, such as their steamy tryst with a member of a rival Dynasty being exposed or having a secret child.
Besides the Values, the Head can choose their Heir and declare Outcasts. An Outcast might seek redemption, or they might rebel. An Heir might be overwhelmed by pressure, or they might rise to the occasion. Relationships can get complicated, and how it all plays out is up to you. Maintain Unity to increase the number of positive events the Dynasty sees, or see what drama unfolds when it gets low.
The gameplay trailer is set to premiere at 8AM PT / 5PM CET / 4PM BT. To make things easier we’ve also included a handy countdown below that counts to the exact moment of the gameplay trailer premiere!
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A new EA Playtester survey is researching into player’s satisfaction with the current state of The Sims 4 Series.
We received a new message from one of our readers about a third survey roaming around the EA Playtester circles. Sims player who’d like to stay anonymous shared a new official survey about The Sims 4 Base Game. It contains both questions about favorite townies in The Sims 4 and another set of questions asking about the general satisfaction and statements for The Sims 4 series.
Here’s what the original email of the new Sims 4 survey stated for playtesters:
Hi Playtester!
We are eager to hear from you! Dive into a survey and share your thoughts on current and future concepts. Participation is entirely up to you, and while there’s no compensation, your feedback is the magic that fuels our creativity.
Take a moment to complete the survey at your own pace. There are no right or wrong answers — just your honest insights.
Thanks,
– The EA Playtesting Team
New The Sims 4 Official Survey Questions
We’ll be skipping through all the Sims 4 Townies questions as they are the same as the ones from the public survey. You can see what it contains here and vote on our Community Poll about favorite Sims 4 Townies!
The new set of Sims 4 Official Survey questions ask the player about their thoughts on The Sims 4 in general. Asking if they’re satisfied and excited when playing new features, do they trust the game to be reliable as it becomes more complex and so on. Many of these questions touch on the topics that a majority of Sims players have been leaving feedback and comments on The Sims official media accounts. It’ll be interesting if they take any of the feedback into account!
When it comes to the Official Survey for The Sims 4 itself, you won’t be able to take it, at least not from this article. If you’ve been selected by EA Playtesting you can give it a go and prepare with these statements below:
Statements from The New Sims 4 Official Survey
The features and gameplay in The Sims 4 make the game world feel alive and believable.
The look and feel of The Sims 4 still feels unmistakably The Sims – familiar yet evolved.
Overall, the features and gameplay in The Sims 4 feel seamless and immersive.
The features and gameplay in The Sims 4 surface what matters most in the moment without breaking my immersion.
The features and gameplay I use in The Sims 4 make Sims’ behaviors feel smart, responsive, and lifelike.
New features and updates in The Sims 4 fit naturally with existing packs and features.
The Sims 4 connects naturally with what I’ve enjoyed in previous Sims games.
The features and gameplay in The Sims 4 respect the time and effort I put into the game.
The Sims 4 builds on and improves what I enjoyed in past Sims games.
I trust that my Sims, families, and creations in The Sims 4 feel safe and lasting over time.
I trust that my Sims, families, and creations in The Sims 4 remain intact and usable across updates and expansions.
The world graphics, lighting and buildings in The Sims 4 look and feel stylish, modern and cohesive.
The features and gameplay in The Sims 4 make me curious to explore and discover more.
I can see how neighborhoods and communities in The Sims 4 grow alongside my Sims’ stories.
Overall, the experience of playing The Sims 4 feels seemless and immersive.
The features and gameplay in The Sims 4 support how I personally like to play The Sims.
The Sims 4 lets me move smoothly between storytelling, building and exploring.
The Sims 4 feels flexible enough to support different playstyles and different kinds of Simmers.
Overall, I find the features and gameplay in The Sims 4 appealing.
The Sims 4 offers options and representation that reflect people like me.
I personally enjoy owning and using content and features available in The Sims 4.
I trust that my saves and gameplay in The Sims 4 remain stable as the game grows and evolves over time.
The systems and features in The Sims 4 feel designed to stay technically stable as gameplay becomes more complex and content is added.
I feel confident that The Sims 4 delivers its experience smoothly at a consistent level of quality.
How likely are you to continue playing The Sims 4 in the future?
Considering everything you’ve experienced in The Sims 4, how interested are you in engaging with new updates or releases when they launch?
Based on your experience with The Sims 4, how interested are you in purchasing new packs or content for the game?
What aspects of The Sims 4 feel most true to what you expect from a Sims game?
What aspects of The Sims 4 feel most evolved compared to earlier Sims games?
If you could change one thing about The Sims 4 or its features, what would it be?
The first private Official Survey for The Sims Franchise appeared just 7 days ago. When we got new talks about a new Sims Single Player game and new MySims game! It seems EA is really investigating every corner for the franchise and preparing it for the years to come.
What are your thoughts on the latest Sims 4 official survey? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for the latest Sims News & Updates!
Get a first look at the prizes coming with the next Sims 4 Live Event!
There’s going to be a brand new The Sims 4 Live Event starting February 3rd, 2026. Thanks to a teaser from the Sims 4 Main Menu, we now have a first glimpse of what this Live event will include. Hint: it’s all about the upcoming release of The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion!
New The Sims 4 Live Event Starts Feb 3
A brand new poster for the next Sims 4 Live Event appeared on the game’s main menu, promoting the start of The Sims 4’s next Royal-themed event for February 3rd.
The last Sims 4 Live Event called Deck The Palms was just a Login Event. This upcoming one will bring back the Quests and Event Points mechanisms again!
Embard on a whirlwind adventure and complete weekly quests to earn exciting rewards like the Master of Grudges Aspiration and Capp Library Bookcase!
We have another game preview from this Menu tab below. Revealing a new CAS top and Aspiration.
Earn weekly rewards like a new Lot Trait & Aspiration!
Today’s The Sims 4 Laundry List revealed a new Sims 4 Update set for February 3rd, 2026. This means both The Event and The Update will be deployed on the same date!
EA reveals a new Sims 4 Laundry List for the upcoming game update next week!
EA and Maxis have published a brand new Sims 4 Laundry List, containing a list of fixes and changes coming to The Sims 4 and its DLC features that have been reported by community members.
The list also includes a confirmation of the new Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy pre-patch for Base Game happening on February 3rd, 2026. As well as changes to python code for The Sims 4 modders who have used family trees and legacy gameplay in their Mod contents.
Check out everything new in the official laundry list below:
Table of Contents
The Sims 4 Laundry List: January 27th, 2026
Hi Simmers!
Welcome to the Laundry List, where we share the top community concerns that we’re currently investigating and hope to resolve. If you’re hitting crashes, infinite loading, or missing lots, please read our post here to see how you can share affected saves so we can gather some critical information to aid our investigations.
The Sims Team
Upcoming Update for Mod Users
On February 3, we’re rolling out an exciting Base Game update that introduces expanded and improved functionality for family trees, genealogy, and relationship data. These updates enhance how Sims’ family connections are tracked and displayed, and we’re looking forward to sharing more details with you very soon.
Because this update makes changes to core game systems, our testing has shown that some mods – particularly those that extend or interpret family and relationship data – will be affected. This could appear as missing relatives, unexpected relationship changes, or family trees that don’t reflect what you expect. In rare cases, these issues could negatively impact your save.
If you use mods that involve lineage, generational gameplay, or complex family rules, we strongly recommend removing them before the February 3 Base Game update and waiting until the creators confirm compatibility.
Thank you for your patience and for giving mod authors the time they need to update their work, helping ensure your Sims’ family stories continue smoothly
Mod creators, in an effort to assist you in updating mods that touch genealogy as mentioned above, we’ve provided a list of Python changes to you for this Base Game update below.
Save File Investigation Update
Improving save file integrity continues to be a top priority. Since our dedicated investigation started in September, we’ve delivered preventative solutions for a range of issues, both player reported and ones we’ve identified through our investigation. We’ve also shipped improvements to core systems, like slowly rolling out changes to Scratch Files and rental cheats, to support this work. For remaining issues, we’re awaiting further information from players experiencing them to be able to investigate further, and will continue to monitor for any new player reported issues.
We’re now ready to shift our focus from investigations to longer-term prevention, and with that, will provide future updates via the Laundry List instead of a monthly standalone post. When these changes ship, they’ll be clearly called out in patch notes, so you’ll always know when something directly related to save stability has been addressed. This approach lets the team focus on durable fixes while still keeping communication clear and at a regular cadence.
Here’s the list of the top community concerns we’re investigating for our next update:
[EA Forums] Resolved an issue that caused photos to turn black discovered after the January 13th Base Game update.
[EA Forums] Fixed a UI issue in Create a Sim that was preventing elements from displaying in turn ons and turn offs, as well as the like and dislike buttons.
[EA Forums] Fixed additional instances of an issue where entering and exiting Build Mode during Scenarios with goals would cause the UI to disappear or the game to become unresponsive.
[EA Forums] Editing Mermaids or Aliens in Create a Sim should no longer cause a game crash.
[EA Forums] Resolved an issue that could prevent room type assignments in Build Mode.
[EA Forums] Simple Slattered and MasterCraft staircases no longer have an extra board when placing L-shaped stairs.
[EA Forums] Book covers for Baking, Wellness, Snowboarding, Rock Climbing, Herbalism and Photography books should no longer change when placed on retail displays. Fabrication and Mixology skill books no longer have the same book cover.
[EA Forums] Resolved an issue causing nail asset yfAcc_ManiNaturalShort_SolidDirt to cause a metallic effect to the entire body.
[Bug Archive] Resolved an issue where Sims’ Great Grandparents incorrectly had romantic interactions available to them with extended family members.
[Bug Archive] Resolved an issue causing nail assets yfAcc_ManiGP12Forest and ymAcc_ManiGP12Forest to show lines around the upper arm on Sims.
[Bug Archive] Resolved an issue where Sims didn’t complete the ‘Dance With Someone’ goal at Prom, preventing a Gold Event rating.
[Bug Archive] Upgraded vacuums now work in the “Off the Grid” Lot type.
Updates on Top Community Voted Issues
Our team continues to investigate other community concerns for future fixes. Please note that some topics can be complicated to replicate and require an extended investigation on our end, so even though we are actively reviewing, it’s not a guarantee that we’ll have an immediate fix for it in the upcoming patch. This includes the following top voted issues:
Eyes/Eyelids Issues (Patch 1.110.265/2.01) – Work continues on this top community reported concern, and preliminary behind the scenes work went out as part of the January 13th Base Game update, we hope to have more to share soon on this one!
Disappearances of Pets and Horses in Premade Households – The team feels they are circling a fix for this issue, and we’re hoping to have a fix for internal testing soon. We’ll share more on this one as soon as we’re able.
Strangers in your conversation – We’ve begun investigating this issue, and the team is working on some new theories that could lead to fixes that we hope to share soon.
Animals stuck/disappeared in inventory – We are testing potential fixes for this issue that look promising so far, we hope to have more to share shortly.
Sims obsessively use objects – We have several proposed fixes under investigation for issues reported in this thread, we’ll share new information as it becomes available.
The Sims 4 Code Changes for Modders
Sul Sul, Mod creators,
For the upcoming Base Game update on February 3rd, the team has modified The Sims 4 Python code used for setting and checking the family relations between Sims. Some classes have changed their behaviour to be better aligned with the new genealogy goals, some methods changed their names and signatures, and some tunable fields changed their types to be in-line with the new architecture. This is not a comprehensive list of all code changes, but the changes that are most likely to significantly impact mod functionality.
As this is a large change to many systems, we wanted to provide as much detail ahead of time to help you update your mods and reduce friction for any Simmers who use them. We hope this information is helpful and welcome your feedback via the comments below. As a reminder, you can view The Sims 4 Mod Policy here.
Logic Changes
Key points:
SimInfo object still exposes the main interface in Python for setting the individual’s existing sim’s family relations to other sims (existing and purged). The interface was slightly changed, see below.
GenealogyTracker object inside the SimInfo still exposes the main interface in Python for checking the individual’s existing sim’s family relations to other sims (existing and purged). The interface was slightly changed, see below.
From the Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack Base Game update, it will not be possible to set any family relations in Python other than direct parental relations and partner relations for existing SimInfo objects. Any other (indirect) types of family relations (siblings, grandparents, cousins, in-laws, step-relatives etc) will be automatically deduced and managed by the new Family Tree Service, and can’t be set directly anymore, neither by code nor with tuning (loots, household templates etc).
Family Tree Service keeps a persistent, always growing family tree graph for all sims in the save. It keeps the data about dead sims even after they get purged from the save (unless they were manually deleted in CAS). It replaced the genealogy_cache entirely. Every node in the graph is either lived or living sim, every edge of the graph is either parent/child relation or a marriage.
On every loading, the game synchronizes the state of SimInfos with the family tree graph in the save and family relbits between all related sims.
The order of synchronization is the following:
Any legacy family relations recorded in Genealogy Tracker, other than direct parental relations, will only be used for portability between Python and client. Only direct parental relations will be used as the source of truth for the Family Tree graph during the loading-time synchronization.
Any family relbits, that has no corresponding relation represented in the family tree graph during loading, will be archived / removed from the game.
To provide better backward compatibility with legacy saves, that could have been changed by cheats and mods, the game attempts to reconstruct “unknown” parents in the family tree graph for parentless siblings and for grandchildren without parents, from just their relbits, to keep relations with such incorrectly configured siblings and grandparents valid after Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack Base Game update. This always prioritizes safety, so it won’t run in all cases.
Python API Changes
The following code should perform the described operations keeping SimInfo, Family Tree graph and relbits in sync if applied properly. Any other ways to modify and get family relations will likely give unexpected results and will provide a higher chance for breaking saves.
Setting a Parent
You can only set a parent to a new SimInfo, that has no family relations yet. You can do it twice to set both parents.
WARNING: Setting parents above doesn’t perform any checks for the appropriate and relative age of the parent! This is on the caller to identify a pair of sims which are appropriate for child/parent relationships. Setting a parent which is younger than its child is not recommended and can cause various unexpected issues.
Getting/Setting Spouse
WARNING: Setting spouse above doesn’t perform any checks for age and inappropriate romance restrictions! This is on the caller to identify a pair of sims which are appropriate for marriage.
Getting Relatives
The following genealogy methods return id generators for the mentioned groups of sims related to sim_info. Please note that you need to have a valid sim_info to run these methods, so it won’t work if you only have an id of the sim which was already purged (see Navigating Family Tree below instead).
Navigating the Family Tree (Read-only!)
The Family Tree graph’s traverse() method allows the code to navigate the entire family tree starting from sim id passed as the first parameter. By default it traverses through all linked nodes including those corresponding to already purged sims (which has no sim info in this save).
Every traversed node is either lived or living sim, every edge of the graph is either parent/child relation or a marriage. The caller can adjust the maximum depth of traversal with optional max_depth parameter (see below), which by default is set to 10. The caller can also choose which edges to not traverse with the help of a function passed into an edge_filter_function parameter.
Access to family tree node’s data happens in the visitor function passed by the caller into the visitor_function parameter. See the FamilyTreeNode’s fields available for reading below.
WARNING: Please note that visited_node and analyzed_edge below are references to the actual Family Tree graph data in memory. In any circumstances don’t change any data inside the referred objects! Otherwise this will break the sync between Family Tree graph and the rest of the save, leading to the save corruption.
The caller can also choose which graph traversal order to choose – DEPTH_FIRST or BREADTH_FIRST, using the traversal_mode parameter.
In the edge filtering function, the following bit flags will be found combined in the analyzed_edge.edge_data bitmask:
Tuning Related Changes
It’s not allowed to use relationship loots in tunings to set any family relbits other than parents.
It’s not allowed to use Relationship Map in premade_sim_relationships tuning to set up family relations between premade sims. New Family Relations Fixup should be used instead if family relations need to be created between households. For in-household relations between premades the household template tuning is used as before.
The following tunables (fields) were changed in the following tuning types:
whims.whim_set.GeneTargetFactory – “relationship” is now RelationshipType instead of FamilyRelationshipIndex.
filters.tunable.GenealogyFilterTerm – “family_relationship” is now RelationshipType instead of FamilyRelationshipIndex.
aspirations.aspiration_tuning.AspirationFamilialTrigger – “target_family_relationships” is now RelationshipType instead of FamilyRelationshipIndex.
Additionally, The Sims Direct Team sent out another update stating that the Prom disappearing from Calendar issue fix is set for a March 2026 Base Game Update release.
Simmers, We have a fix in testing for the prom issue. Pending final checks, we’re targeting the March Base Game update and will share as we know more.
What are your thoughts on the latest Sims 4 Laundry List and upcoming game changes? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to Sims Community for new info as soon as the update drops!
In 2025, and even spilling over now into 2026, Simmers did one of the things they do best – turned popular movies and series into magical Sims 4 re-creations. Big releases dominated the box office in 2025 and caught a lot of Simmers eyes, sparking imaginations across the world. Movies like Wicked: For Good and series like Stranger Things 5 had Simmers in build mode creating homes and venues as well as those crafty CAS creators re-creating lookalike characters with some spot on accuracy!
Have a favorite show from last year that you wish to relive in your Sims game? With this gallery spotlight of Sims 4 2025 Movies and Series your wish is our command, as a bunch of them have been reimagined in both builds and in Create A Sim.
Hawkins Cinema – 9Blaine9
Table of Contents
Wicked for Good
“Now demonized as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba lives in exile in the Ozian forest, while Glinda resides at the palace in Emerald City, reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, she’ll need to reunite with Glinda to transform herself, and all of Oz, for good.”
A very strong contender and favorite among many was Wicked: For Good. So we had to include it in our Sims 4 2025 Movies and Series. This is the second movie in the franchise and brings back some of the fan favorites to live out the next chapter of their journey. If there is one area Simmers thrive in it’s aesthetic builds and Wicked: For Good helps spark imagination in both CAS and builders alike. From homes and townhouses to entire castles modeled after the School, Shiz University, the gallery did not disappoint with this popular movie.
School for Good & Wicked – MissPink87
Lot Type: Library Lot Size: 64×64 Price: §564,569
Every big and beautiful set eventually becomes a 64×64 lot in The Sims and the Shiz University is no exception. This may be inspired by Oz but definitely not limited by the grid as every inch of this lot has been utilized. This beautiful reimagined castle, with both good and wicked represented, is standing boldly ontop of a rock formation. One side is light and airy while the other is dark and mysterious.
Both sides of the school have bedrooms, learning areas and things for any witch or wizard who may need something. Set as a library lot type, this lot could be changed depending on your requirements and the gameplay you have in mind. It has the versatility of being a library, university housing or even a custom venue to let your imagination and storytelling take the reins.
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 30×30 Price: §193,415
Elphaba and Glinda inspired townhouses, each side representing each character – their colors, aesthetic and mainly their vibes. From dark, moody and powerful on the one side to pink, charming and giving ‘main character energy’ on the other, this is definitely where friendship, rivalry and magic all share a fence. Two lives showcased in two very different styles but beautifully built to capture the perfect personality for both.
Capturing personalities into a build is one thing but capturing the personalities of characters in CAS is a whole new ballgame! It can be tricky, but with great skill comes great CAS creators! There are plenty of re-creations of Glinda and Elphaba on the gallery – each with their own unique looks and outputs and all great re-creations.
TiannaCarina and Lunawendream have both created Elphaba and Glinda in CAS and have pulled off beautiful renditions of the two main characters. From the clothes to the accessories and hair, no detail was left untouched when it came to making these Sims and framing them after their respective characters. c0ffing1rl has done a re-creation of Ariana Grande but a Glinda version and not only is the re-creation spot on, you can see Ari looking back at you dressed and ready for her performance as Glinda! From the cheekbones and nose, to the lips and hair – this truly is a masterpiece.
KPop Demon Hunters
“When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren’t selling out stadiums or topping the Billboard charts, they’re moonlighting as demon hunters to protect their fans from ever-present supernatural danger.”
When K-pop meets demon slaying there is only one real thing to do – go from screen to Sims! KPop Demon Hunters characters have bold silhouettes and a supernatural edge to them that is just itching to be re-pixelated in The Sims 4. It is almost like the ultimate stage for recreating these characters – you have everything from sliders and colors all the way to picking just the right traits to match the attitude.
Perfectly styled yet perfectly lethal – DewberryShake has created the iconic three demon hunters with stage ready confidence and demon-slaying precision. The eyes say it all, beautiful but deadly. e95f2ef112b44953 has re-created our two main characters that they are both pretty enough to headline and also dangerous enough to end worlds. With both of these creations each character has a clear and unique identity – some looking remarkably like the characters they portray.
Plur1bus
“The series follows novelist Carol, who finds herself isolated after an alien virus transforms the rest of humanity into a peaceful and content hive mind, which nevertheless seeks to assimilate her and other immune individuals.”
Pluribus (written out as ‘Plur1bus’) exists in a place that feels much like unease and deliberately unsettling. At the same time it can give off Sims world building energy… if you squint and tilt your head slightly. But think about it, a world where all of humanity merges into a singular, peaceful and content environment… sounds very much like the first save we all had. Until we learnt about pool ladders back in the day or meteorites that can fall out the sky… death by chicken anyone?
Pluribus House – ltbaker87
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 40×30 Price: §34,628
Carols house is a bit of a mystery in itself since we don’t actually get to see too much of the bigger picture of just what this house looks like. This is a great re-creation of her house since we mainly see interior shots and shots from the front of the house (sometimes a sneaky side of house shot). It is beautifully crafted, looking not too far off from what we do manage to see. And with the desert like backdrop it is s perfect lot for Oasis Springs.
RaversFallacyPS4 has done a fabulous job of recreating Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn) in CAS. They have taken her presence and her overall demeanor that she puts out into the world and captured it beautifully. She stands out as a character that has been through a lot, seen a lot and is still here fighting for more. Amazing work was put into this CAS creation from the laugh lines, to the shape of the eyebrows and eyes.
Severance – Season 2
“Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives; when a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.”
If Simmers love it, it will be rebuilt – guaranteed. No matter how complicated it may seem, or impossible the floorplan might turn out – we will build it! Severance is no exception to that rule, with it’s complicated passages and strange little rooms, Simmers have tackled this challenge head-on. With Season 2 airing in 2025, Simmers either added onto their existing builds or created entirely new ones based on what we finally get to see ‘behind the scenes’ of the ever secretive Lumons building.
The Sims 4 Movies and Series list had to include Severance and The Lumon building considering it is a mystery to us all (almost gives us Strangerville and Mother vibes…). Past the almost clinical and drab lobby area no one really knows what goes on but some Simmers have ventured a guess and come up with some fun office builds to add into your Sims world.
Lumon Office – Severance – Sim_Souza_22
Lot Type: Generic Lot Size: 40×30 Price: §126,731
This Lumon building by Sim_Souza_22 has research machines setup in the very misleading office room where the majority of Season 1 takes place. The rest of the build is left open to interpretation like much of the actual building in the series. It leaves room to add your own creative flair and any needs that you might have for an office building in your game. Or why not re-tell your own creepy version of a story taking place in a very mysterious and strange building.
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 30×20 Price: §540,882
With an unassuming lobby and reception area, this Lumon re-creation seems almost welcoming until you realize there is more to it than there may seem. There are two levels underground where you have a whole slew of secret office spaces and curious themed rooms. This build is based off the second season of this series, showing more of what is revealed to us the more we watch. A great addition to your Sims stories with those who freelance or work from home, they now have a spot they could visit – the storytelling is there for you to pick up and run with.
Recreating the main characters, jelaynahyggen has captured the overall essence of the four office workers, Mark, Helly, Irving and Dylan, who all work together in the unassuming and questionable office space in the Lumon building. The focus is less on dramatic styling and more on controlled expressions, subtle sameness, and quiet unease. They capture the muted clothing, subdued colors and corporate anonymity that comes with the whole idea behind Severance. But they also capture the differences in each character from their eye shape, jaw line and nose down to other styling choices like their hair, facial hair and minimal accessories.
Separate households but the same creator – Createriri has done two brilliant re-creations from the Severance series, that of Mr Milchick and Dylan G. Their personalities emerge through the smallest CAS choices here and great crafting of the overall characters.
Stranger Things 5
“In 1980s Indiana, a group of young friends witness supernatural forces and secret government exploits. As they search for answers, the children unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries.”
Season 5 of Stranger Things landed in 2025 and with it came a bunch of builds and CAS creations. Sims builders don’t watch movies and series, they study floor plans. They recreate magic! And few things translate into The Sims 4 as naturally as Stranger Things does. For the Sims 4 Movies and series spotlight this series was definitely one simmers could have fun with. Instantly recognizable characters, very atmospheric buildings and personality filled homes, Sims creators have embraced this fandom across both build and CAS.
Hawkins Cinema – 9Blaine9
Lot Type: Lounge Lot Size: 30×20 Price: §169,791
The true premiere happens when it hits The Gallery which fits perfectly with creation of the Hawkins Cinema. Sometimes the most powerful builds don’t need walls at all. They need things creeping through those walls, making them crack and having them come crashing down. Breaking the barrier between what is and what might be, this build is explosive and brilliant and full of life – it may be more set dressing than playable but what a build!
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 30×30 Price: §197,535
The Creel Stranger Things house re-created as a playable family home is great for story retelling or even as a stand alone for your own game. With a fireplace in the front entrance you know you are walking into something great. This house boasts a good sized kitchen with a formal dining room, lounge and formal living room. The house has 3 bedrooms and 5 full bathrooms, meaning this is a home for big families with lots of gatherings that can take place throughout the home.
Formal dinner party? There is a piano for someone to entertain the guests, perhaps an aspiring musician in the family. Casual TV Premier watch party to take place in the living room with plenty of space for the whole family. This creation is beautiful and functional and ready for you to place in your game.
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 30×30 Price: §132,428
The iconic and distinct Wheeler home from Stranger Things has been re-created by Simmarysims for everyday gameplay. With its neat façade, warm interiors and unmistakable styling it is the kind of home that feels safe… yet we know from the series that it has dark secrets lurking just out of sight. This home is period accurate with it’s carpeted floors and modestly sized bedrooms. This home is designed with spaces made for long relaxing conversations and being in comfortable company. This is a beautiful, functional family home with 4 bedrooms upstairs with 2 bathrooms to share and a half bath downstairs for any visiting guests (not that Sims do what you want them to do…).
But wait there is more! A sneaky basement with it’s own full bathroom, laundry and a place to relax, unwind and bond with friends.
JadaCreates has made a popular Sims 4 2025 Movies and Series group come to life with their creation of the Stranger Things cast. The bloody nose on Eleven is a perfect touch on a great set of Sims. From their layered clothing reflecting the times to their distinctive, recognizable shapes from their jawlines to hair styles, they have been captured really well to represent their characters on the show.
“A romance set in the world of hockey; Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are two stars in Major League Hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands.”
This was an interesting contender for our spotlight on The sims 4 2025 movies and series. Heated Rivalry proves that the most successful Sims re-creations aren’t just about faces and floor plans – they’re about recreating a feeling, one Sim and one lot at a time. With architectural accuracy, emotional accuracy, and at least one debug plant Heated Rivalrysparked a lot of interest in The Sims community with “The Cottage”.
Although having a very short appearance and only one episode focused entirely around it – The Cottage is a popular build on The Gallery when it comes to Heated Rivalry. From it’s floor to ceiling windows, beautiful interior details and magnificent wood features throughout – this build clearly struck a chord in Simmers for them to open up their games and start building. When the walls are glass everything shows, as is fitting with the theme and context of the series and with the abundant use of glass – there is no hiding behind walls and secrecy in this build.
The following re-creations are all similar but so different at the same time. Capturing the same build over three different interpretations but keeping the look and feel of the building there. The architecture is beautiful, capturing the use of wood and glass blended together. All three builds have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with one bedroom being upstairs and the other two in the downstairs portion of the house. This would be a great vacation lot for your Sims to go visit or even a place for them to call home.
The Cottage – Jemieau
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 50×40 Price: §96,259
The re-creations of the Cottage are stunning, captivating and ready to place in game. As a 3 bed, 2 bath home this could work great for families as a home or as a vacation lot for 3 couples to spend a cozy weekend. The shape of this house is unique and angles towards the view of the water in the series (and on this lot), creating a more closed in and secluded space among the trees and natural surroundings. A secluded lakeside retreat where time slows and emotions don’t. With this build not only does the view do the talking but build does too, with its architectural beauty.
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 30×20 Price: §19,952
As with the previous build, this too would be a great family home or vacation spot. With outdoor entertainment and plenty of space inside, this home is great for story telling. Soft light, natural textures, and the kind of stillness designed for rest and reflection. Morning light spills across wood floors capturing the warmth this home.
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 30×20 Price: §19,952
Similar to the first build, the shape of this build is unique. It too angles itself to create a more secluded area and privacy for its inhabitants. Wrapped in trees and quiet, the cottage feels less like a getaway and more like an exhale. Floor-to-ceiling windows pull the outside in. With conversation areas around a firepit and a dark wooden table for outdoor entertainment this house is great for hosting too.
userblurp has created their version of Ilya and Shane. While Shane is more clean cut, Ilya is sharp edged. If they look like they would argue, then it is an accurate depiction! The detail in citoyendesbois re-creations will blow you away when you realize that their faces and features have been made with the tattoo feature! All the detailing, all the sculpting – is down to a very skilled hand. *You need The Sims 4: Businesses and Hobbies in order for their faces to appear how they do here.
Sims 4 2025 Movies and Series – Honorable Mentions
A Minecraft Movie
“A mysterious portal pulls four misfits into the Overworld, a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master the terrain while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected crafter named Steve.”
A Minecraft Movie was one of the biggest movies of the year in 2025, from vibrant colors and exaggerated shapes this movie aesthetic fits great decoration wise into an already stylized game.
Minecraft Picture – maryroberts1
A fun addition to your Sims homes could be for a Sim who is particularly fond of the world of Minecraft and would want a wall full of Minecraft posters to show off their love for the game. Mayroberts1 has created a whole bunch of pictures to fill up your Minecraft loving sims walls from top to bottom! Although not many creations for our showcase of The Sims 4 2025 movies and series – it is still a fun contender.
“On the rugged isle of Berk, a Viking boy named Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless. However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.”
With fantasy Nordic/Viking architecture, and influences from medieval Scandinavian coastal villages, Berk from How To Train Your Dragon – Live Action could be a lot of fun to try and recreate. Though we may not have dragons – and probably never will – we do have the characters to help bring the story to life in The Sims 4. Their very one of a kind appearances make for some fun CAS imagination and creativity.
How to train your Dragon – RefinedGhost
These characters are all about heart and growth while still being recognizable. RefinedGhost has made the iconic teens who are all fighting to learn how to become great warriors of Berk… and then how to change the way everyone views dragons. From their unique outfits to well structured and defined faces – these characters have been captured well in CAS.
RefinedGhost has created a whole library full of CAS recreations from How To Train Your Dragon to The Umbrella Academy. Check out their gallery for more amazing CAS finds.
Much like Minecraft, there are also fans of Berk and all it’s crazy characters! Bring that spark and light into your Sims homes with these beautiful custom wall art pieces. CountryWolf23 has created a bunch of wall art to show your love for this movie and all the magic it has to offer.
“Stitch, an extraterrestrial entity, comes to Earth after escaping prison, where he tries to impersonate a dog. Things take a turn when a lonely Hawaiian girl, Lilo, adopts him from an animal shelter and he helps mend her broken family.”
Lilo & Stitch was also another animated movie turned live action that came out in 2025 and Sims builders and CAS makers responded in the best ways possible – jumping in game and re-creating what they love. The tropical landscaping goes perfectly in Sulani where builders re-created Nani and Lilo’s home. The builds and CAS creations are all inspired by the movie and done so well that adding these to your game would feel seamless and would be a whole lot of fun for storytelling.
Lilo and Stitch’s House – JessHarts
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 40×30 Price: §199,837
This 2 bed, 2 bath home has been decorated to feel lived in and filled with life. It is not cramped, meaning spacious rooms make this home very playable and ready for your Sims to move in. One could almost imagine the salt air drifting through open windows and along the large porch, carrying the sound of waves and everyday life with it. The bright colors of this home reflect the tropical environment where the home is built, making it feel like part of the world, perfect for Sulani.
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 30×20 Price: §99,220
The colors of this build would pop in Sulani, with a fun architectural structure and tropical lush vegetation to blend in with the environment. This modest 2 bed, 1 bath beach house trades perfection for warmth. It is practical and shaped by some crafty floor planning and attention to detail. The small things make it stand out, from the spandrels and roof trims to the terrain manipulation and use of a debug car.
Lot Type: Residential Lot Size: 20×20 Price: §34,873
Like the previous build, this too is a 2 bed, 1 bath modest Hawaiian beach house, worn and warm. The structure of this house is fun and funky, matching the house in the movie and series as close as possible within the constraints of The Sims. Within the lush vegetation, palm trees lean in close, framing the house in natural colors. There is a modest porch all around the house that invites breezes from the nearby ocean inside, as well as lots of windows to let in as much natural light as possible.
We love some custom wall art to spice up our Sims walls, but this takes it to a new level of adorable. VivienIsabelle has some amazing pieces of wall art on the gallery, including this adorable set inspired by Lilo & Stitch. Definitely check out their gallery for more movie inspired wall art as well as a whole lot of other beautiful pieces to decorate your Sims homes.
Recreating Disney characters and sets has always been popular among Simmers. Lilo, Nani and Stitch are part and parcel of the Disney clan and Simmers have tackled that wave head on with re-creating these characters in The Sims. faithNcooper, Fld124 and sapphirelover1 have all taken to CAS to re-create the three beloved characters. From Nani and Lilo’s beachy vibes, to Stitch and his big eyes, big nose and blue fur, these households could be a fun addition to let run around in Sulani or take control over in-game.
That’s a wrap for our The Sims 4 2025 Movies and Series spotlight! *curtains close, lights fade and Simmers stand to cheer.*
What makes Sims 4 re-creations special isn’t just accuracy, it’s passion and creativity as well as interpretation! Builders take the emotion of a film or movie and translate that into the look, feel and vibe of their build – using clutter and lighting to re-create what they felt when watching. CAS creators use their ability to manipulate the facial structure and styling to recreate almost perfect replicas of characters. In a year full of big releases the sims community proved again that no pop culture moment is complete until it has been remade – and having bb.moveobjects on helps! So out of these Sims 4 2025 Movies and Series which was your favorite? Let us know down below!
