Category: The Sims 4: Updates

The Sims 4 received a big update today, adding a good amount of cool content to the base game just in time for the Get to Work expansion. Without further ado, let’s get started on our breakdown.

World Selection Interface

The world selection has a new interface and, despite my apprehension, is an okay addition. While it adds a bit of flair, it also adds an additional screen. The transition time is short, however, and it does look fancy.

Building Basements

Another fan request has been fulfilled with the free addition of basements to The Sims 4’s base game. On top of that, the ability to add a fourth floor to lots and pick up the entire lot in Build Mode were also included.

The Basement Tool is located in Build Mode under the walls and empty rooms category. Basements can go two levels deep, bringing the maximum number of levels on a lot to six. One interesting feature is the ability to delete the ceiling, allowing players to essentially create big holes in the ground. You can even make underground pools.

A welcome addition is the option to move an entire lot. Objects that are out of bounds are highlighted in yellow and will be deleted if placed in that position. No more placing lots from the Gallery, only to find them facing the wrong way and unable to rotate without manual adjustments.

New Hairstyles

The second half of our WooHoo Weekend rewards finally came today in the form of two new hairstyles. Fans were disappointed to only receive the gnome during the last patch, but it was worth the wait. These really exceeded my expectations.

New Features & Collectibles

A Notebook feature was added to the cell phone, accessed through a small, easily recognized button at the top of the cell phone menu. It documents what bait was used to catch a fish while fishing, and splicing recipes when gardening.

A big surprise is the inclusion of the photo reference painting feature. After choosing Paint from Reference (unlocked at level 3) and a size at an easel, a camera interface will appear. This will pause the game, allowing you to adjust the zoom and position of your photo reference.

The Bunny Egg Hunt event kicks off through the month of April, adding a new Decorated Egg collectible type. You may find them in garbage cans, dig spots, or while searching for frogs. Find all ten and unlock the Bun Bun object in the Buy Catalog! The Mr. Floppy the Gnome and Guardian of the Gnomelaxy objects join the catalog as well.

Careers Update

Non-played Sims will now be assigned careers! Along with that comes the ability to build relationships with your coworkers or classmates while at work or school. Sims can learn each other’s career through the new Ask about Career social interaction. Information regarding their job title, work schedule, and where they work can then be viewed from the relationship panel. Sims at the top of their career will be able to earn additional rewards and promotions, giving players a reason to maintain their Sims’ work performance.

The Sims 4 has received a new update today that fixes several bugs and crashes for the PC and Mac. With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, they’ve added a new themed hat to Create-A-Sim for males and females.

The Bare Essentials Gnome eagerly awaits players in Build Mode as a reward for completing the WooHoo Weekend challenge.

The Sims is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a new update for The Sims 4!

What’s New?

The main menu of the game has been revamped, adding banners, links to the latest patch notes and forums, and a Create New Household button for active saves.

Family trees are back, now called Genealogy. A Sim’s family tree can be accessed by clicking the Genealogy button in the Simology panel. Hovering over a Sim’s portrait will display their name, career, spouse, relation to the selected Sim, and cause of death if applicable. Married Sims are differentiated by a pink line connecting their portraits in the tree.

New Valentine’s themed clothing were added to Create-A-Sim, including one t-shirt per gender, boxers for men, and lingerie for women.

Four new objects can be found in Build Mode, including:

• Happy Gnomiversary!
• Bearly Gnome
• The “Lots of Love” Bear
• Venue Wall Speaker: Winter Holiday

Whims (excluding emotional ones) can now be pinned, preventing them from being cycled out. To do so, hover over a whim and click the small Pin button.

Four new legacy achievements!

• Legacy Player: Play a household for ten generations or more.
• Alphabet Legacy: Play a household for 26 generation or more.
• Legendary Legacy: Play a household for 100 generations or more.
• Legacy Leader: Have ten households in the world that have been played for ten generations or more.

Adjustments / Bug Fixes

• The infamous bug causing bartenders to ignore incoming drink orders has been patched.
• Dates can be had on the currently active lot.
• Fireplaces will no longer set ceiling lights and objects on the mantle ablaze, and the chance of fire spreading to nearby objects has been reduced.
• Sims outside of your current household will now wave goodbye when leaving the active lot.
• Outdoor Retreat: Sims can no longer enter the Bramble Patch while uncomfortable.

Announced back in October, the highly anticipated careers update is now available!

Careers

The Athlete and Business career tracks were added to the game, each with two branches.

At level 7 of the Athlete career, a Sim can choose between the Professional Athlete and Bodybuilder branches. while Sims in the Business career have a choice of either Management or Investor branches.

In addition to the new careers, Sims can now acquire Paid Time Off by going to work, and have three days at the start. Female Sims can go on Family Leave during their third trimester of pregnancy, and both parents can take off after the birth of their child.

Adjustments

Many small adjustments were made to the game with this update, most notably:

• Some career and aspiration goals were deemed too difficult or too large a gap between previous goals were made easier to complete.
• Fruit and vegetables obtained through gardening can now be eaten.
• Several doors, windows, and roof trims were given new color choices.
• The rate of weight gain was reduced by half when your Sim is actually hungry.
• Sims will no longer grab drinks from the refrigerator autonomously.
• The lounge venue is no longer the Elder hotspot.
• Objects will break less frequently.
• Sims will now autonomously use swimming pools at venues.
• You may now view the various panels for a Sim when they are at work.
• A Sim’s life stage will now display when hovering over them.
• Taking screenshots is enabled during Create A Sim.
• The phone menu and career panel have received modified designs.
• A layer of dirt will form on Sims with low hygiene.

Cheats

Three new cheats were added to the game, and another was fixed. Testing cheats (testingcheats on) must be enabled in order for these cheats to work.

The Set as Head cheat has been fixed and can now actually be used. After enabled testing cheats, you can shift click on any object and place it on your active Sim’s head.

The sims.give_satisfaction_points # cheat allows you to instantly give your Sim satisfaction points based on the number inputted.

Players looking to unlock all career reward furniture without doing the work can use the bb.ignoregameplayunlocksentitlement cheat.

At last, the Move Objects cheat has made it to The Sims 4! bb.moveobjects allows you to place any item in any location, disregarding placement rules. In addition, pushing the 0 number key will move an object down, while the 9 number key will move it up.

The highly anticipated pools update for The Sims 4 has launched! Log into Origin to automatically download the November 4th patch.

Pools can be found in Build Mode and built using triangle, square, diagonal, and octagonal blocks, or freely drawn with the Pool Tool. They can be placed on any floor of your lot! Pools have customizable wall and floor designs, and can be decorated with a ladder, lights, windows, and decals.

Get your Sims ready with the new Swimwear outfit category! New speedo, swim trunk, bikini, and one-piece swimsuits, as well as a new necklace and sunscreen lotion face paint are available in Create A Sim. Be wary of your Sim having dangerously low hunger and energy while in a pool, as they can now die from drowning.

October 1st Update

When a Sim dies, they can now return as a Ghost! Their appearance and special behaviors are affected by how they died. Their color will change depending on their emotional state. Traits and skills a Sim had while alive will carry over into the afterlife. Ghosts can added to a household and brought back to life. Additional information can be found in our Ghosts article.

Dress up as your favorite Star Wars character with new themed costumes! An X-Wing pilot suit, Leia’s robe and hairstyle, Darth Vader’s suit, and a children’s Yoda suit are available.

Fans disappointed by the lack of eye colors can now rejoice! Maxis has heard your requests and included five additional eye colors in Create A Sim: Dark blue, gray brown hazel, olive green hazel, dark blue hazel, and purple.

The Spooky music station has been added to the game.

New Cheats

bb.showhiddenobjects

Shows Debug objects in Build Mode.

casclockspeed [0-10]

Adjusts the speed of a Sim’s animation in Create a Sim.

 Future Updates

November Update

• November marks the grand addition of pools to The Sims 4!

December Update

• Additional career paths and rewards will be added sometime in December.

These updates are all FREE and added via patch through Origin.