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The Sims 4 Snowy Escape: Complete Breakdown of 16 New Lifestyles

Jovan

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October 31, 2020

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape: Complete Breakdown of 16 New Lifestyles

Presented by EA Game Changers

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack comes with an exclusive new Lifestyle feature that reflect your Sims’ previous experiences. Unlike Traits that you give your Sims straight from Create A Sim or unlock through various different Skills and Careers, Lifestyles are given to your Sim exclusively through the way you play with your Sim.

As you do certain interactions that fit into the profile of a certain Lifestyle, Sims will slowly build progress through that Lifestyle. There’s a limit to how much progress in a lifestyle you can make, meaning that Lifestyles can be unlocked slowly in a matter of few days in the game.

To know which Lifestyles you have or which Lifestyles you’re progressing through, open the Sim Info Panel menu. In there you’ll see 3 different slots of Lifestyles (which, by the way, is the max amount of Lifestyles your Sim can have).

In the Lifestyles Menu you can keep track of all the Lifestyles that there are as well as with which Lifestyles you’re making progress. There are some Lifestyles in the Menu that are randomly hidden. Certain Lifestyles get randomly hidden with each save game!

Lifestyles are much more powerful compared to traits as they give really strong buffs to your Sim – both positive and negative depending on if they’re following their Lifestyle correctly or not. There’s so much to talk about how these Lifestyles impact your everyday life and how Sims’ everyday activities get impacted by them.

We also have a video breakdown of all the new lifestyles coming with the pack that you can check out below!

Adrenaline Seeker

Adrenaline Seeker is a Lifestyle for Sims who seek out danger, adventure, and sometimes even drama to ride the wave of an adrenaline rush! To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, explore dangerous locales, get into fights, woohoo outside, work in a dangerous career, and seek out excitement in all its forms! Just be sure to avoid the mundane.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when thrill-seeking
Avoids boring conversations
Does not panic during fire and finds it exciting
Increased work performance in dangerous careers
Can “Talk about New Adventure” and “Enthuse about Thrill-Seeking” with other Sims
Can “Fight for the Rush!” after having gone too long without a thrill
Bored when performing mundane interactions and socials
Tense when going too long without excitement

Close-Knit

Sims living a Close-Knit Lifestyle prefer to form deep connections with a small circle of friends. To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, a Sim should keep their friend count between one and three Sims while seeking to deepen the relationships they do have.

Lifestyle Effects:

Keeps Good Friends longer but has a harder time staying friends with Sims at lower relationship levels
More likely to gain Long Term Sentiments with friends
Can “Ask to Be Confidant” and gains unique flavor socials with Confidant
Tense when without friends or when friend group grows to four or more

Coffee Fanatic

Sims who live a Coffee Fanatic Lifestyle want nothing more than another cup of java in order to reap its benefits. To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, drink a lot of coffee.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits after drinking coffee
Will make and drink more coffee than other Sims
Brewed Coffee is always Outstanding Quality
Increased Skill gain in all Skills after drinking coffee
Can “Talk about Benefits of Coffee” or “Lament the Detriments of Coffee” depending on caffeinated status
Can “Work Caffeinated Shift” while at work
Increased work performance after drinking coffee
Uncomfortable after going too long without drinking coffee

Energetic

Sims who live an Energetic Lifestyle love to stay active and keep moving! To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, seek out athletic and sporty activities or join a high-energy career.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when performing high-energy activities
Prefers to perform high-energy activities
Increased work performance in high-energy careers
Decreased work performance in low-energy careers
Dislikes low-energy activities and becomes tense when going without activity for too long

Frequent Traveler

Frequent Travelers make a habit of visiting new and exciting places and want to experience everything these locales have to offer! To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, travel for vacations, visit exotic hidden destinations, and seek out new experiences while traveling.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when traveling to another world or when taking a vacation
Increased Skill gain in all Skills while on vacation specifically
Increased work performance and other benefits after returning from a vacation
Can “Ask about Home Region” on locals to gather destination suggestions while traveling
Can “Share Travel Stories” after a vacation
Bored after having gone too long without travel

Health Food Nut

Sims who live a Health Food Nut Lifestyle are devoted to eating nutrient-filled foods! To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, eat healthy foods and harvestables while avoiding Quick Meals, desserts, or anything that may seem unhealthy!

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when eating healthy food
Prefers to cook and eat healthy food
Can “Cook Healthy Meal” to make alternative healthy recipe options
Increased Weight Loss and Fitness Gain while working out after eating a meal made by “Cook Healthy Meal”
Can “Evangelize Benefits of Health Food” to other Sims
Displeased by eating junk food and tense when going too long without eating healthy food

Hungry for Love

Sims living a Hungry for Love Lifestyle have a strong desire to be in a relationship and struggle to deal with life without one. To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, engage with romantic media or attempt to romance other Sims.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when in a romantic relationship
Prefers romantic behavior and is more likely to succeed when being romantic
Acquires romantic Sentiments more easily
Enjoys romantic media
Increased Work Performance when in a romantic relationship
Tense when not in a romantic relationship

Indoorsy

Sims living an Indoorsy Lifestyle prefer to be within the confines of an indoor space. To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, prioritize doing activities indoors rather than outdoors.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when doing indoor activities
Prefers to be indoors
Decreased work performance in outdoor careers
Tense when spending too much time outside rather than inside

Junk Food Fiend

Sims who live a Junk Food Fiend Lifestyle crave snacks and sweets and are enthusiasts of spicing food up with sugar and bacon! To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, eat Quick Meals, desserts, or anything that may seem unhealthy as a rule. Just be sure to avoid eating healthy!

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when eating junk food
Prefers to eat junk food
Can “Add Sugar” or “Add Bacon” to food, turning it into junk food
Can “Evangelize Benefits of Junk Food” to other Sims
Displeased by eating healthy and tense when going too long without eating junk food

People Person

Sims living a People Person Lifestyle have an easier time building and maintaining a large friend group, sometimes at the cost of connecting with those friends. To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, a Sim should have four or more friends.

Lifestyle Effects:

Keeps lower relationship level Friends easier but struggles to keep Good Friends or higher
Various benefits when interacting with three or more friends at a time or when making a new friend
Less likely to gain Long Term Sentiments with friends
Greater need to be social
Tense when friend group contains fewer than four Sims

Single and Lovin’ It

Sims living a Single and Lovin’ It Lifestyle happily enjoy the ‘single life’ and savor their independence. To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, avoid being in a committed romantic relationship and romantic media.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when single
Increased Skill gain in all Skills when single
Less likely to acquire romantic Sentiments
Finds romantic media somewhat unrealistic
Increased Work Performance when single
Tense when in a new committed romantic relationship

Outdoorsy

Sims living an Outdoorsy Lifestyle prefer to be outside, taking in the fresh air. To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, prioritize doing activities outdoors rather than indoors.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when doing outdoor activities
Prefers to be outdoors
Increased work performance in outdoor careers
Tense when spending too much time inside rather than outside

Sedentary

Sims who live a Sedentary Lifestyle favor relaxing and lounging in all its forms, and prefer to avoid exerting themselves. To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, pursue low-energy activities that allow a Sim to relax, sit, and lounge around or join a low-energy career.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when performing low-energy activities
Prefers to perform low-energy activities
Increased work performance in low-energy careers
Decreased work performance in high-energy careers
Tense when performing high-energy activities or when going too long without doing relaxing activities

Techie

Live a life immersed in technology! To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, interact regularly with electronics and technology or join a tech-related career.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits when interacting with technologyPrefers to use technology over non-electronic objects
Increased Skill gain in Programming and Rocket Science
Can apply the Overclocked Upgrade to computers and then “Enthuse about Processing Power” with other Sims
Improved success when repairing and upgrading electronics
Increased work performance in tech-related careers
Tense when on a lot without Power or when going without technology for too long

Technophobe

A Lifestyle dedicated to the avoidance of technology! To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, a Sim should pursue a livelihood without Power or technology, even going so far as to sabotage or break electronics from time to time.

Lifestyle Effects:

Various benefits relating to broken electronics, when on a lot without Power, or when on a lot using the Off-the-Grid Lot Trait
Prefers to avoid using technology
Can intentionally “Sabotage” electronics
Decreased work performance in tech-related careers
Tense when using technology

Workaholic

Sims living a Workaholic Lifestyle tend to fixate on their careers by working extra hard and rarely taking breaks. To acquire or maintain this Lifestyle, pursue promotions, Work Hard while at work, complete Daily Tasks, and abstain from taking days off.

Lifestyle Effects:

Needs decay slower while at work
Increased work performance gain
Difficulty in keeping long term relationships
Can “Go to Work on Off Hours” and “Demand Promotion from Boss”
Receives extra work-related benefits when in the Corporate Worker career
Tense when neglecting work duties or without a job

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape: Deep Dive into the New World!

Snowy Escape

Jovan

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October 31, 2020

0

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape: Deep Dive into the New World!

It’s time we dig deeper into the world of Mt. Komorebi!

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack comes with an exciting new Japan inspired world. The world is seperated into 3 different neighborhoods and a mountain top – each bringing new lots that you can customize and visit. The world is packed with exclusive new gameplay for each neighborhood!

In the video above I’m showcasing each neighborhood properly. You’ll find new information about Mt. Komorebi including Lot Sizes, Households that live inside of this world, full overview of each area within each neighborhood and exploration of the mountain top!

There’s going to be a seperate video explaining how you can reach the mountain top and what skills are required to climb your way up there without…you know…dying.

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape: Create A Sim Video Overview

Snowy Escape

Jovan

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October 31, 2020

0

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape: Create A Sim Video Overview

I’ve had loads of fun playing The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack over the last few days!

A part of that experience was to focus and give you an overview of each segment inside of the pack. The first segment is Create A Sim! In this video I’m going through every single hairstyle and clothing item – including each and every color variant that they come with! Of course there’s also a look at some of the new Aspirations and Traits but they’re not really that much impactful in my opinion (thankfully we have the addition of 16 new Lifestyles).

Check out the video above and stay tuned for more article and video coverage on Snowy Escape!

The Sims 4 is FREE on Steam over the weekend

Jovan

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October 30, 2020

0

The Sims 4 is FREE on Steam over the weekend

Looking to get yourself or your friends into the world of The Sims 4? Now’s your chance!

Steam is having a special Free Trial promotion where you can play The Sims 4 Base Game for free from October 29th up until November 2nd.

Not only that but The Sims 4 Base Game is 75% off on the Steam platform. Other packs are also on sale including:

The Sims 4 Expansion Packs (50% off)
The Sims 4 Game Packs (50% off / Star Wars is 25% off)
The Sims 4 Stuff Packs (25% off)

Make sure you take advantage of these offers on Steam before it’s too late! The Free Trial period for The Sims 4 Base Game is expected to end on November 2nd at around 10AM PT.

The Sims 4 introduces Age-Locked Rooms with Platforms

Jovan

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October 30, 2020

5

The Sims 4 introduces Age-Locked Rooms with Platforms

Presented by EA Game Changers

Okay. You’ve probably heard about Platforms coming to The Sims 4 and some of their great possibilities.

Creating platforms to create your own staircase module all the way to the top? Yup, that’ll be possible.

Going deep down into the ground to create in-ground seperated platforms? Of course!

With so many platforming possibilities you’ll be able to flesh out your lot and give it more dimension than ever before. However, did you know that platforms also introduce height-sensitive rooms?

With the latest update Sims will begin to notice how much space they have above them and if they’ll be able to fit into rooms that don’t match their height. This limitation was especially important because platforms can be placed wherever you want, even inside closed down spaces.

This means that with platforms you’ll be able to create rooms inside your home that are both exclusive to children and toddlers!

I tested this feature out by elevating one of the children rooms in my game. I elevated the room, added a staircase so my Child Sim could properly enter her own bedroom and tested out the space. All of the objects inside the elevated room were completely usable for the Child Sim!

However, the same thing couldn’t be said for her parents who tried to access the room as well. The new update added a small new animation that lets you know when Sims can’t access a place that doesn’t fit their height. Surprise surprise – the parents couldn’t interact with any of the objects in the room nor were they able to obey my “Go Here” interactions.

With platforms you’ll be able to create a real-life dollhouse for your Children and Toddlers to play in – and I can’t wait to check them out once the update goes live in the next few days because I simply suck at building.

Huge thanks to Steph0Sims for letting me know about this neat feature!

What’s coming in The Sims 4’s November Update

Jovan

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October 30, 2020

10

What’s coming in The Sims 4’s November Update

Presented by EA Game Changers

The Sims 4 will have a huge new patch released a few days before the release of The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack!

Over the last couple of days I got an opportunity from EA to test out not only the new Expansion Pack but all of the new additions that are coming to The Sims 4 for free!

I’ve also done a video overview of the next update if you want to check it out down below:

So, without further ado, let’s break down everything that’s coming in the next update:

Platforms

Platforms are an exciting new feature coming to Build Mode that help you elevate your space and give your interiors (and exteriors as well) more dimensions! The first thing that you’re gonna notice when selecting the Walls & Empty Rooms category in Build Mode are a range of new Platform Features. You’ll be able to place down your own Platforms using the Platform Tool or place down some of the pre-existing ones. Those also include diagonal, octagonal, triangular and round platforms (that come in 3 different sizes!).

You’ll also be able to stack platforms one on top of another – the only limitation is the wall height (and yes, that means that you’ll be able to make platforms even higher in areas with bigger walls).

An easier way to elevate your platforms without unecessarily having to stack them over and over again is using the “Raise Platform” tool that shows up upon selecting the platform of your choice. Once again, the sky (or in this case, the wall) as well as the dirt are your limits

When it comes to the functionality of Platforms they can be used as stairs as long as each platform is elevated by one bar level.

Speaking of stairs, yes, you’ll also be able to place them down along platforms that are higher up!

If you want to decorate your platform’s exterior there’s a whole new “Platform Trims” category where you can choose different trims of your choice. Platforms are unique and therefore you won’t be able to use wallpapers on them to decorate the exterior – only the trims!

Half Walls Upgrade

Say goodbye to the limited category of half walls! The Sims Team has unlocked up to 19 different half wall sizes that you can place down!

Each half wall size fits perfectly to each platform bar level, meaning that if you’re not satisfied with the current collection of platform trims you can place down a half wall around the platform and decorate the exterior with a wallpaper of your choice.

Vacations and Rental Lots

Rental Lots are no longer exclusive to The Sims 4 Outdoor Retreat and The Sims 4 Jungle Adventure Game Pack! With the latest update you can select any lot from any world and turn it into a Rental Lot.

This opens up the possibility of sending your Sims to a Vacation into any world that has a Rental Lot placed down. To take a vacation, click on the Phone, select Take A Vacation and choose which Sims you want to send. The game will then open up all the Worlds that currently have a Rental Lot. Select for how many days you want to stay on your vacation and enjoy your stay!

While living on a vacation lot you won’t be able to access Build Mode on your Rental Lot. Thankfully any necessities you might need for your Sims (and their younger ones) can be purchased through the mailbox / phone. Food, Toddler Beds, Lounge Chairs – it’s all there!

This is a perfect opportunity for you to revisit Sulani from The Sims 4 Island Living and send your Sims off to vacation there!

Sim Info Panel

There’s a new Sim Info Panel that displays all the information your selected Sim has about another Sim. You can access the new Sim Info Panel by opening Relationships menu and selecting a Sim of your choice.

Sentiments

Sentiments are how a Sim feels about another Sim based on recent past experiences. There are Positive and Negative Sentiments, which can influence a Sim’s Mood and behavior when the other Sim is around! These are discovered naturally through gameplay and will fade over time. The amount of time it takes for a Sentiment to fade depends on if it is a Long-Term or Short-Term Sentiment.

New experiences together can also make existing Sentiments fade more quickly or more slowly. Positive Sentiments are easily eroded by very negative experiences, and a successful apology goes a long way towards healing any Negative Sentiments. The colored backdrop behind a Sentiment icon indicates how far it is along in the fading process.

A Sim may have up to four Sentiments about another Sim at a time. If a Sim acquires more than four Sentiments about a particular Sim, the least important Sentiment will be replaced.

Sentiments are a powerful new addition to relationships that influence your Sim’s emotional state depending on Sims they’re surrounded by. Their emotions will only be influenced by other Sims if they’re around Sims with who they’ve built Sentiments with.

For example, doing an activity such as taking a hike (from The Sims 4 Snowy Escape) will build a positive, strong sentiment.

However, not all Sentiments will appear as mutual. It all depends who initiated a certain set of interactions that made the sentiment appear.

A cleaner overview of all the sentiments that you’ve built can be found in the Sim Info Panel.

You can also keep track of your Sentiments when socializing with another Sim. There’s a new Sentiment Icon at the top of the relationship bar that extends the Sentiments UI:

Sentiments can be built between Sims of all ages. Scolding your toddler for making a mess might leave that toddler feeling hurt – giving them a negative Hurt Sentiment. That toddler will not only get a strong negative moodlet when being around that Sim but also try to avoid them until they make amends (or until the sentiment fades away). This is just an example of course – this particular sentiment can occur between all Sims!

There are sentiments that are exclusive to The Sims 4 Snowy Escape but a lot of sentiments are included within the Base Game. Things like adopting a child, getting into a fight, cheating, death – all cause a unique sentiment between two Sims.

We didn’t get a specific list of all the new sentiments but I was able to track all of them in the game files. The end of each file name in the image below represents a unique new sentiment – however they do not represent all of the ways you can earn those sentiments.

We’ll be doing a seperate article and video regarding sentiments and how you can unlock them on Sims Community so stay tuned!

Nasolabial Creases in CAS

A small face details feature has been added into Create A Sim and those are Nasolabial Creases! There are 4 different ones to choose from:

The Sims 4: November Update Video Overview

The Sims 4

Jovan

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October 30, 2020

0

The Sims 4: November Update Video Overview

Over the last couple of days I got an opportunity to play The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack! During this playtime I’ve also got a chance to see what’s coming for free in the upcoming Base Game Update for The Sims 4!

In the video above I’m showing all the new Build Tools, explaining Vacations, showcasing the new Sentiments feature and more!

Stay tuned to Sims Community both here and on our YouTube Channel for more exclusive coverage about the upcoming content!

LIVESTREAM REPLAY: The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Deep Dive

Snowy Escape

Jovan

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October 30, 2020

1

LIVESTREAM REPLAY: The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Deep Dive

UPDATE: The livestream has ended! You can catch the replay down below.

The Sims Team will be doing a special livestream of The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack!

During the livestream we can expect that they’ll dive deep into different segments of the pack including the new World, Build, CAS and Gameplay!

The livestream is set to begin at 11AM PT / 7PM CET / 6PM BT. We’ve also included a countdown down – the livestream should begin when the countdown turns 0!

Here are the Game Changers Who Helped Bring Mt. Komorebi to Life!

Snowy Escape

SnarkyWitch

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October 29, 2020

8

Here are the Game Changers Who Helped Bring Mt. Komorebi to Life!

Over the past few months, some of the Simming community’s most influential Game Changers have been hinting at a secret project they’ve been working on. Now, that secret has finally been revealed! Today, James Turner, Deligracy, SimLicy, and lilsimsie have all posted videos to their YouTube channels to show off this top secret project.

EA teamed up with these Game Changers and asked them to build every lot in the world of Mt. Komorebi for the upcoming Sims 4 expansion pack, Snowy Escape. After years and years of complaints about poorly done EA builds shipping with the DLC packs, the team finally decided to hand the reins over to some of the community’s most accomplished builders. In fact, not a single lot in the world was built by anyone at EA!

Of course, James Turner, Deligracy, SimLicy, and lilsimsie all had certain restrictions and limitations they needed to comply with for this project, which they go over in more depth in each of their videos. In addition to the standard build limitations, their work was also reviewed and critiqued by EA’s cultural team to make sure that each lot was an authentic and respectful representation of both traditional and contemporary Japanese architecture.

You can check out their videos down below for all the details that went into this large scale collaboration with The Sims Team!

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape: New Screens

Snowy Escape

Jovan

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October 29, 2020

1

SimGurus have shared some new screenshots featuring elements from The Sims 4 Snowy Expansion Pack!

Well, mostly content from Create A Sim. Still, you can check out the new screens below!

The Sims 4: First Look at the Skin Tones & Makeup Sliders coming this December!

The Sims 4

Jovan

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October 29, 2020

5

The Sims 4: First Look at the Skin Tones & Makeup Sliders coming this December!

The Sims Team released an official blog post talking more about their BIG upcoming update for The Sims 4 which addresses Skin Tones and Makeup. Not only will we be getting more than 100 new Skin Tones to choose from but there’s now also new sliders to accompany the tones – along with new sliders for makeup as well!

Check out the preview below:

A few weeks ago, we shared some of our plans for updating skin tones and diversity options in The Sims™ 4, and it’s time for us to check in again! Our team has been hard at work on this important initiative. Find out what to expect over the next couple of months ahead.

Where We Are Now

On October 6, we launched a PC base game update* that improved issues with some of the existing darker skin tones. Specifically, we addressed the color banding that appeared on Sims’ cheeks and foreheads, which created a streaked and inconsistent appearance, and fixed discoloration along the nose tip. Doing so allowed us to create a consistent tone across the whole of the body, allowing for the shadows and details to be more visually distinct. (You can read about the specifics below to see whether the update applies on your computer.) We also tweaked the male afro and braids base game hairstyles to reflect the detail, texture, and style of their real life counterparts. Console players will notice those changes reflected in the November 10 update.

These improvements are just the first step in our plans to give you the tools you deserve to express and represent yourself.

An Important Update Hits This December

On December 8, we will be adding over 100 new skin tones to The Sims 4. Every skin tone will have a value slider to unlock thousands of more customizable options. In addition, we’ll make compression improvements to make both new and existing skin tones display better, including strengthening the quality of suntans and sunburns.

Our December update also includes the introduction of four makeup sliders to more freely complement all skin tones. The hue slider lets you control your color, while the value slider lets you adjust brightness. You’ll be able to adjust transparency with the opacity slider, and control how much color is in your makeup with the saturation slider. This will ensure your chosen makeup looks just right on your selected skin tone.

Lastly, three more base game hairstyles will see improvements in the December update. These include two children’s hairstyles—the braided ponytail with baby hairs and the braided ponytail without baby hairs—and the flat-top texture hairstyle.

More to Come

It’s our goal to ensure the representation in The Sims 4 is more inclusive. To do so, we’ve been working with consultants, including prominent community members like Game Changers Mia Zaff, EbonixSims, Rao, Xmiramira, and CatherineGames. They’ve been advising us in our endeavors to create a more inclusive game for everyone. It was their suggestion to add additional hairstyles without baby hairs in the December update, which is why there are three rather than the two we previously announced.

Going forward, we’re committed to continuing to improve The Sims 4 to give you the game you deserve. We can’t wait to see what you’ll create in the future, and we’re so grateful to have you on this journey with us.

Thank you!

We are working on this hair, too. We want to make sure we are getting it right, so we don’t have a date for when this will be updated just yet. 💚

— The Sims (@TheSims) October 29, 2020

The Sims 4 Console: How To Set Up Remote Play Features For Smart Devices

Krista

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October 29, 2020

3

The Sims 4 Console: How To Set Up Remote Play Features For Smart Devices

A topic that has popped up a handful of times recently over in the Sims Community Facebook group is how are people playing The Sims 4 on their iPads, tablets, or mobile phones? Now, you might be thinking, you can only get The Sims Mobile or The Sims Freeplay on mobile devices and not The Sims 4. While yes this is correct, you are actually able to play The Sims 4 (providing you already own the game on console) by using your respective consoles remote play features.

Below you will find a step by step guide on how to set up remote play features for your Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

Note: For this article, we tested out both apps on a 2017 iPad Pro. Both apps are available on Apple and Android devices. For full device compatibility, check the app for details.

First things first, you’ll need to head over to either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and download either the Xbox App or PS Remote Play App onto your device.

Xbox One

Turn on your console like normal.
Once you have signed in to your account head over to the top right of the app and look for the icon that looks like an Xbox and tap on it.

You’ll then be presented with a small pop-up menu with several different options and you will want to select remote play on the device.

From there, follow the on-screen instructions. You’ll then be asked to select the enable option displayed on your television/monitor to allow remote play access.
You’ll need to pair your controller and to do this simply head back into your smart device settings. Go to Bluetooth and you’ll need to search for your Xbox Controller. On your controller, press the small pairing button for a few seconds until the Home button flashes. The pairing button is located to the right of the LB button.
Once you have paired your controller to your smart device, return to the Xbox App (you may have to repeat the first few steps to relaunch remote play)
You will be presented with your Xbox Dashboard and you will be ready to play and launch The Sims 4 like normal. You can turn off your television/monitor (not the console) and play on your smart device instead.

Once you have finished playing, simply hold down the Home button and select stop streaming. You can then return to using your Xbox One like normal.

Note: You may be asked to update your Xbox Controller’s firmware when you connect first set up remote play. It is very straightforward and easy to do. Simply follow these steps.

Follow the on-screen instructions.
Once you have the screen with the Xbox Controller on it, select the button with the three dots on it.
Select the Update Firmware option from the left-hand side of the screen to update your controller.
Once updated, Check your controller has paired with your Smart Device in your device’s Bluetooth settings.
Return to your Xbox Home Screen and relaunch the Xbox App on your device.

PlayStation 4

Turn on your console like normal.
Once you have signed in to your account and pair your controller following the on-screen instructions.

Once you have successfully paired your controller, you will then need to connect to your console. This should be done automatically but there is an option to do it manually if needed.

Now that you have connected to your PlayStation you should see your normal home screen on your smart device. You can turn off your television/monitor (not the console) and play on your smart device instead.

The PS Remote Play App also features an on-screen controller that you can also use when playing The Sims 4. However, if you don’t wish to use it, the controller interface will fade away after a few seconds and you can use your controller as normal.

When you have finished playing, simply leave the app or shut down your console until the next time you go to play.

Don’t forget, if you own a PS Vita you can also use the Remote Play features on there too!

Both the Xbox app and the PS Remote Play app are straightforward to set up on your smart device. While there are other ways you can mirror your displays to a smart device, using the respective app for your console for direct streaming, provides the same smooth experience as if you were playing using a television/monitor to play.

To download the free apps follow the links below!

Xbox – Android/Apple

PS Remote Play – Android/Apple

The Sims 3 Mac 64bit Release is out now on Origin!

Jovan

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October 29, 2020

3

The Sims 3 Mac 64bit Release is out now on Origin!

The long-awaited compatibility release of The Sims 3 for Mac OS computers is finally out now!

You can download this version of The Sims 3 on Origin if you have a Mac OS device. If you’ve already registered The Sims 3 in your Game Library then a new version should pop out with a “64bit” tag on top of the Box Art. The Base Game along with all of the Expansion Packs and Stuff Packs should be updated to work with the latest 64bit & Metal version!

Please note that currently there are some issues in the main menu that people have reported on. EA is currently working on them and we’ll keep you posted as soon as they get resolved!

Hey Simmers, today we released an update for The Sims 3 with 64-bit & metal support for macOS. It got off to a rocky start! We are currently working hard to resolve the issues. Stay informed by watching the thread below (most current status = pinned msg) https://t.co/BAU37ygI66

— SleddingGuruFrost (@SimGuruFrost) October 28, 2020

There are no plans to update the Windows PC version of The Sims 3. (Please don't hurt me 😰) https://t.co/u2nsBbSqwB

— SleddingGuruFrost (@SimGuruFrost) October 29, 2020

Hey stressed out simmers!

WOW! What a day! You remember in the before-times, this morning, when the day looked like it was just going to be a super cool? Wow. That was a lifetime ago.What has happened? Great question! We opened the flood gates! And the downloads came, and the Internet held its collective breath, and then a few minutes later people with REALLY GOOD connections started reporting that they were getting some weird “incomplete install” error and they couldn’t get any father. THEN EVERYONE ELSE started reporting this problem too! Lo, the game team collectively sucked in our breath and said “uh-oh.”

Well it’s been a super exciting six hours since then. Super. Exciting. But we know what happened and we think we know how to fix it. There’s even a good chance you won’t have to re-download things. I don’t have an ETA for this fix other than “as fast as we absolutely can.” I’ll put out more updates as soon as I can.

Thanks for your patience everyone! It’s been really fantastic watching the humor and wit and enthusiasm the whole community of players has had as were worked to figure this out. You’re all just fantastic.

Frequently Asked Questions

I already own The Sims 3 on Mac, how do I get the new 64-bit version?

The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit will automatically be applied to your EA Account and available to install from My Library at no additional cost.

I plan to purchase The Sims 3, which versions will I get?

Purchasing The Sims 3 through Origin will provide you access to previously existing versions on Windows PC and Mac as well as the new version for macOS.

I own The Sims 3 on disc, how do I get the new version?

To get the new version of The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit, you will need to register your game with EA and download the 64-bit version of The Sims 3 from Origin. You can register your game and packs at www.thesims3.com by logging in with the same account you use with Origin (EA Help). For any registration or account related issues, please contact EA Support by visiting https://help.ea.com/contact-us

I already registered The Sims 3 on the website but I don’t see it in Origin, what do I do?

If you have already registered The Sims 3 and any packs on www.thesims3.com but do not see it in My Library in Origin, ensure you log in to Origin using the same email and password you use on www.thesims3.com. The same applies for using The Sims 3 website, login using the same details you use in Origin to see all of your owned content. Do not try to re-register your code in Origin or on the website as it will inform you that the code has already been redeemed since it is already applied to your EA Account. For any registration or account related issues, please contact EA Support by visiting https://help.ea.com/contact-us

Is this a Remaster or Remake of The Sims 3?

This new version is a compatibility release which adds support for 64-bit, Apple’s Metal graphics API, and makes the application a fully native macOS app. It is not a Remaster or Remake of The Sims 3.

Is changing from 32-bit to 64-bit the only thing that has changed?

No. This update of The Sims 3 also switches from OpenGL to Apple’s Metal graphics API, changes significantly how data is managed with the game service, where files are stored within the macOS file system, and has been updated to be a native macOS application.

Will the new version of The Sims 3 on Mac be delivered as an update?

No, due to the changes, The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit is seen as a different game by Origin. That means you will need to install rather than update.

I have Save Game files, can I continue my progress in the new version?

Your Save Game files are compatible with the new version of The Sims 3 and you will be able to continue where you left off. Before uninstalling any version of The Sims 3, we always recommend backing up your Save Game files.

Can I go back to the old version of The Sims 3?

Yes, if your macOS supports 32-bit applications (support for 32-bit was dropped by macOS in the Catalina release in 2019, but earlier versions of macOS that still support 32-bit applications might still run on your Macintosh), you can install either release of The Sims 3 from My Game Library in Origin. However, if you have macOS Catalina (10.15.x, released in 2019) or later, which only supports 64-bit applications, you will only be able to use the new release of the game.

Can I install the older macOS version and the new macOS version together?

No, you will only be able to have one version of The Sims 3 installed at a time.

I own both a new and an old Mac, can I still play on both?

Yes, in My Library you will see both the older and newer versions of The Sims 3. Simply install the version of the game which suits the Mac you are using.

I have The Sims 3 DLC and/or content from The Sims 3 Store. Do I need to re-purchase them if I use the new version?

No, all of your existing packs, Worlds and purchases from The Sims 3 Store stay with you. To install your Packs, you will need to download them once you have installed the new version of The Sims 3. You can do this by selecting The Sims 3 (64-bit & Metal) from My Game Library in Origin and selecting each Pack type and clicking the Download button. For content purchased from The Sims 3 Store, login at TheSims3.com and go to Store > My Store Account > Purchase History and you will see your purchases ready for download.

I want to use the new version of The Sims 3 on my Mac. What specs do I need?

You will need a Mac which has support for Apple’s Metal graphics API and be on macOS High Sierra (10.13.x, released in 2017) or later. For Minimum and Recommended specs, you can find them listed below and on The Sims 3 (64-bit & Metal) page on Origin.com.

MAC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MINIMUM SPECS:

OS: Metal required. macOS® X 10.13 (High Sierra)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz Processor or better

RAM: At least 4 GB RAM

HARD DRIVE: At least 15 GB of free space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content and saved games

VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680, AMD Radeon RX 560, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 or better

INPUT: Keyboard and Mouse

ONLINE REQUIREMENTS: Internet connection required for product activation.

RECOMMENDED SPECS:

OS: macOS® X 10.13 or later

PROCESSOR: Intel Core i5 or better

VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680, AMD Radeon RX 560, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 or better

MEMORY: 8GB RAM

HARD DRIVE: 18 GB of Hard Drive space

Apple has recently announced that the Mac platform is moving to ARM based CPUs. Is this release of The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit optimized for this new architecture?

This release of The Sims 3 for macOS, 64-bit is optimized for macOS running on Intel x86 CPUs. It is not optimized for the Apple ARM CPU architecture.

I don’t want to see two versions of The Sims 3 in My Game Library, what can I do?

If you want to keep your My Game Library tidy, you can hide the version of The Sims 3 which you do not use by highlighting The Sims 3 and right click and select Hide. You can view your hidden games at any time and unhide them where necessary by using the Hidden Games filter in My Game Library.

When will The Sims 3 for Windows be updated to 64-bit?

The Sims 3 for Windows PC works on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. We do recommend players on The Sims 3 version 1.67 or earlier update to version 1.69, which is available to download through Origin if you have registered your game and packs against your EA Account.

The Sims 3 for macOS is in my Origin library, but I can’t download it! Is something wrong?

Nope, nothing is wrong. Beginning on October 20 we began adding the entitlement for this version of the game to all Origin accounts that own any release of The Sims 3. This means that the game is showing up in your library, but that the game itself is not yet available for download. This is expected! The game will be available for download soon.

EA releases two exclusive The Sims 4 Halloween Bundles on Steam

The Sims 4

Jovan

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October 29, 2020

0

EA releases two exclusive The Sims 4 Halloween Bundles on Steam

If you’re on Steam and you’ve been looking to save up on The Sims 4 Packs then The Sims Team has the perfect bundles for you!

EA has released two new Halloween Bundles exclusively on Steam that save up to 30% off on the total pack price. There are two seperate bundles: the Halloween Bundle and the Coven Bundle, each containing a somewhat different set of The Sims 4 Packs. Here’s a breakdown of each Bundle, what they include and how much you save up on the total price:

The Sims 4 Halloween Bundle (30% off on total price)

The Sims 4 Vampires Game Pack
The Sims 4 Strangerville Game Pack
The Sims 4 Realm of Magic Game Pack
The Sims 4 Spooky Stuff Pack

The Sims 4 Covens Bundle (25% off on total price)

The Sims 4 Get Together Expansion Pack
The Sims 4 Vampires Game Pack
The Sims 4 Realm of Magic Game Pack

13 Things We Love from The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Gameplay Reveal!

SnarkyWitch

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October 28, 2020

3

13 Things We Love from The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Gameplay Reveal!

The highly anticipated gameplay trailer for The Sims 4 Snowy Escape dropped today, providing us with lots more information about all the features briefly seen in the initial reveal trailer. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite features we spotted in the trailer, both confirmed and speculative.

Festivals

In the trailer, we can see Sims enjoying some festivities going on in Mt. Komorebi. Festivals are a confirmed new feature discussed in the official blog post. Festivals were initially introduced with City Living but many players have been asking for more variety when it comes to the festivals. The City Living festivals have become a bit repetitive over the past four years, so it will be refreshing to see some new ones.

Cave Exploration?

Cave exploration is not a confirmed feature, but in the trailer, we can definitely see some Sim-sized openings in the mountains and one Sim bravely venturing forth into one of these dark caverns. Sims Online has reported that these spots are in fact WooHoo locations, but we’d be quite surprised if that was their only purpose.

Hiking

Hiking appears to be more interactive than we previously anticipated! We can see Sims actually taking a walk in a group together in the nature of Mt. Komorebi and the narrator talks about hiking being a new activity. In the past, modders have added hiking activities to the game; however, these excursions had Sims disappear off the lot in a rabbithole for a period of time. It seems like we’ll be able to follow our Sims through these hiking trails which is great news!

New Greetings

It’s not surprising to see two Sims bowing to each other in a Japan-inspired pack. Bowing is a common greeting in Japan and is a sign of mutual respect between two people, so it’s nice to see that social custom in the game, as well. It’s both a fun and respectful new way to interact with other Sims.

Bare Feet Indoors

One feature some players noticed from the reveal trailer was Sims being in socks or bare foot indoors. The gameplay trailer features this more prominently. Most people take their shoes off when they enter someone’s home, so it always struck us as odd that our Sims were always walking around the house in their footwear to begin with, but removing one’s shoes before entering a building has even more significance in Japanese culture, so we’re happy to see this small but important detail come to the game.

New Disposal Bins

We couldn’t help but spot some new disposal bins outside a home in one shot of the trailer. Eco Lifestyle was primarily focused on living green and being more aware of how we dispose of everyday items, but these new colour-coded bins seem to hint at proper waste disposal being implemented somehow in Snowy Escape as well. It also looks like the bins are part of the editable lot and not just set dressing in the common space.

Customizable Platforms

Another confirmed feature coming to the game is customizable platforms! These new platforms can be resized, stacked on top of each other, and have varying degrees of height to open up a whole new way to build! This will be useful not only for recreating integral aspects of Japanese design, but also for all kinds of advanced architectural techniques seen in many types of modern homes around the world.

Floor Seating

Some new floor seating and low dining tables are a perfect compliment to the Japanese architecture and interior design featured in this pack. This will surely make for some warm and inviting family dinners or gatherings among close friends.

Lifestyles

We catch a glimpse of one of Snowy Escape‘s most anticipated new features; Lifestyles! As our Sims embark on new adventures and take up new hobbies and activities, they have the potential to pick up a new Lifestyle surrounding their interests. This gives us all types of The Sims 2 Freetime vibes and honestly? We’re living for it!

School Uniforms

What looks to be a group of teenagers attending school in Mt. Komorebi are wearing some traditional Japanese school uniforms! Personally, the lack of school uniforms was something this author has always been bothered by. I attended a high school that had uniforms somewhat similar to the ones depicted in this trailer and have always mixed and matched different clothing pieces to recreate school uniforms for my younger Sims. It is so exciting to see proper school uniforms in the game! Could this also be a hint for more teen-focused gameplay in the future? Hmmm…

Koi Fountains

We can see koi fish swimming around in shallow waters in the gameplay trailer, which is a feature confirmed in the official blog post. We will be able to add koi fish to our decorative fountains in Snowy Escape, making our outdoor spaces feel much more alive with the beauty and grace of nature!

Zen Skill?

There has been a lot of talk about “finding your zen” in the trailers and blog post for Snowy Escape, and the narrator talks about being able to tune out distractions in order to control emotions better. We’re still not entirely sure how this zen aspect is going to function in-game, but this definitely looks like new gameplay we will be able to explore, whether through a skill or some other type of practice.

Respectful Tourism

The narrator talks a lot about being respectful towards Mt. Komorebi’s culture; keeping selfies to a minimum in order to fully experience everything the world has to offer and to be mindful of the rules in place while visiting the bath houses. It makes us wonder if our Sims will be able to go the opposite route and get up to some tourist mischief in Mt. Komorebi? Maybe we’re reaching a little too much here, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

What was your favourite part of the gameplay trailer? Let us know in the comments or come chat with us on social media!

The Sims 4 Snowy Escape comes to PC, Mac, PS4, and Xbox One on November 13th, 2020.

Missed the trailer? No problem! You can watch it right here!