August Sims 4 update: what’s new, what’s broken, and how to stay safe ⇒ Sims4Life

Start here: back up and disable mods

Before touching any patch, back up your saves, remove your Mods folder, and uncheck “Enable Custom Content and Mods” in Game Options. Even small patches can break UI and core tuning mods. onlyabidoang shows a broken UI and load loop caused by an outdated menu refresh mod, which resolved only after disabling mods.

Can’t load to household

A major issue some players hit after the update is failing to enter lots: selecting a household dumps you back to world map. This can happen even with no mods, according to early bug-report threads. If you’re affected:

Try without mods and CC
Repair the game in EA App or Steam
Consider deleting Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Options.ini or UserSettings.ini then relaunch
Keep an eye on EA’s trackers and supply a mod-free save if requested

New pack selection feature

From the main menu, Pack Selection lets you toggle owned packs per run:

Use Select All to enable everything or uncheck packs to disable their CAS, objects, lots, and gameplay
Best used for new saves. Removing packs from existing saves can break households, lots, and systems
Expect a restart after changes. The more packs you toggle, the longer it can take to process
Quirks: the list can get stuck on “Game data is still loading.” Try the Reload button in the dialog or fully restart the game. Some users fixed it by deleting UserSettings.ini and then running Repair

Tip: pack selection previously required command-line flags and wasn’t available on console. The in-game switcher is simpler and finally works across platforms.

New skin and face details

CAS gets realism boosts for teens and older:

Body: freckles, stretch marks (knees, thighs, belly, lower back/backs of thighs), age spots, body wrinkles. Multiple swatches and intensity variations
Face: an additional eye-bag set, mouth wrinkles, new freckle pattern, dark spots in three placements, age spots for the face, rosacea with three coverage options
Works with existing skin details like vitiligo. Swatches adapt to different skin tones

Disable ailment spread

In Game Options → Pack Settings → enchanted by nature, there is a toggle to Enable ailment spread:

Off: ailments no longer spread through contact
On: ailments spread as before
Notes: fairies can still inflict ailments with powers, and Sims in the world may still appear sick. Balance/imbalance can still cause ailments if you re-enable it.

Cart button change

The cart button now opens the full in-game store instead of a small suggested-packs popup. Functionally the same end result, different entry.

Bug fixes and small improvements

Most fixes are categorization and visual tweaks:

Anniversary CAS items show in proper categories (sneakers in Cold Weather, tucked tees in Athletic, Sleep, Hot Weather, wide-leg jeans under masculine preference, curly shag marked as wavy)
Console: accepting updated agreements happens before main menu so Gallery connects
High School Years: when four or more teens from the active household attend, all get daily tasks
Gallery import: Sims with custom tattoos should no longer turn pitch black when placed in a new game
Enchanted by Nature: cooking while “bad luck” is active should start fires less often
Sleek Bathroom Kit: dirty states display with correct colors and swatches

Performance updates

EA lists DirectX 11 as default for many Intel GPU users and notes:

Smoother rendering and input responsiveness
Crash fixes tied to graphics settings
Reduced shadow flicker and steadier lighting and water reflections

Practical update checklist

Back up saves and the Tray folder
Remove the Mods folder and disable mods in-game
Patch, launch, and test on a throwaway save
Toggle packs only for new saves
Reintroduce updated mods gradually, watching for UI or load issues
If load loops persist mod-free, repair and reset UserSettings.ini, then report with a clean save

Want a one-stop hub for live issue trackers, safe-update steps, and a visual guide to the new skin details? Visit Sims4Life

Source: onlyabidoang

Frequently asked questions

Why can’t I re-enable packs after using pack selection?

Use the Reload button in the Pack Selection dialog or fully restart the game. If it still hangs, delete UserSettings.ini and run Repair.

Is the “can’t load household” bug caused by mods?

Sometimes, but not always. Multiple reports show it can occur on a clean setup. Test mod-free, then report with a clean save if it persists.

Should I use pack selection on old saves?

Avoid it. Use it to create new stories. Disabling packs in existing saves can remove assets and break routing or systems.

Do ailments disappear if I disable spread?

Existing ailments finish normally. The toggle stops contagion, not every source of ailment. Fairies and balance/imbalance can still apply them if those mechanics are enabled.