The Sims 4 is back with another base game update for eager fans and dedicated players.
The update, which goes live today, includes some notable features for a more user-friendly gameplay experience, as well as a large assortment of new customization options to add another layer of depth when it comes to character creation and Sim design.
Here’s exactly what the dev team have stated about these new additions:
The Sims 4: new content (August 19 update patch notes)
New skin details: wrinkles, freckles, and more
New Skin Details have been added to Base Game! For teens and older, we’ve added a selection of Rosacea, Dark Spots, Age Spots, and Eye Bags for faces, as well as Stretch Marks and Freckles for bodies. For adult Sims, we’ve also added Mouth Wrinkles and Body Wrinkles. Learn more in our upcoming Dev Diary!
New feature: Pack Selection
Pack Selection is a new feature allowing you to customize your experience when starting a new save based on the stories you want to tell and the experiences you want to build. This helps free up resources on your PC, Mac, or consoles without needing to uninstall packs you don’t currently use. Please note that once you’ve started a save, removing packs may affect the save itself, so this feature is best utilized when creating new saves to optimize performance.
DirectX 11 (DX11) updates
We’ve improved DirectX 11 for PC users with Intel GPUs. Intel GPU users will automatically default to the DX11 executable. Players with GPUs that are not Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD will continue to use DX9.
Performance updates
- In this patch, we’ve made several optimizations to enhance your gameplay experience.
- Enhanced rendering performance for smoother visuals.
- Improved responsiveness by optimizing how graphics are processed.
- Fixed issues causing crashes when certain graphics settings were used.
- Addressed shadow flickering to ensure more stable reflections in water.
- Resolved problems with lighting to maintain consistent brightness throughout gameplay.
Enchanted by Nature Ailments option
In Game Options, the latest expansion pack now has a Pack Settings option for “Ailment Spread”! Unchecking “Enable Ailment Spread” will contain Ailments to Sims that have contracted it, so other Sims won’t catch it. It’s like a sickness that isn’t contagious!
You still can have Fairies deliberately give Ailments to other Sims, Naturopaths still will be able to treat clients who have Ailments, and becoming Very Imbalanced can result in Ailments. To play without that last consequence, just uncheck the “Enable Balance & Imbalance” checkbox. This will prevent Sims from getting an Ailment from being Very Imbalanced (because they won’t get Very Imbalanced at all).
The Sims 4: Bug Fixes (August 19 update patch notes)
The Sims 4
- All the Sneakers from our 25th Anniversary Update can now be found in the Cold Weather category.
- Our Wide Leg Jeans from the Anniversary Update (ymBottom_SDX037Jeans & yfBottom_SDX037Jeans) can now be found under the Masculine Fashion Preference category.
- The new Tucked Tees from the Anniversary Update are now both available in the Athletic, Sleep, and Hot Weather categories.
- Sims with the Feminine Fashion Preference will now see the Blazer & Tee top (yfTop_SDX037BlazerTee & ymTop_SDX037BlazerTee) from the Anniversary Update in Create a Sim.
- The Curly Shag hair from the Anniversary Update is now listed under the Wavy hair texture.
Console
- [EA Forums] With a recent update we identified that an updated User Agreement and Privacy & Cookie Policy was not being shown causing the game to be offline. Simmers will now be prompted to accept the agreements if there is an updated version before reaching the Main Menu to allow the game to connect to the Gallery and Events.
- [EA Forums] Settings configured in Game Options, such as Volume levels, should now accurately save between sessions. We are aware of an instance where some PlayStation users may see a Display Size prompt and a version of a User Agreement when starting a new session and we are monitoring and investigating this.
- In Live Mode when the Notification Wall is open, pressing RT or R2 to clear all notifications no longer affects the game speed.
High School Years
- [EA Forums] When four or more teens from the active household attend high school, all of them now have High School Day tasks.
Businesses & Hobbies
- [EA Forums] When adding a Sim from the Gallery or My Library that has custom tattoos to a household in a new game, the Sim’s skin no longer turns pitch black.
Enchanted by Nature
- [EA Forums] For more flexibility in how you play, “Enable Ailments Spread” now is a toggle within Game Options > Pack Settings.
- [EA Forums] When cooking, Sims with Bad Luck are now less likely to start a fire.
Sleek Bathroom
- Dirty state on the Serenity Stone Tub bathtubs, Throne of Stone toilets and Sleek Stone Sink sinks are now properly displayed with correct color.
- Dirty state will no longer incorrectly change the color swatch of the Serenity Stone Tub bathtubs.
