The latest Sims 4 update is now live, bringing a mix of new content, quality-of-life improvements, and important bug fixes. While there’s some excitement for fresh features, players should be aware of ongoing issues, especially for those using mods and custom content (CC).
Base Game Updates and New Features
Playground Venue
A highlight of this patch is the new playground venue, designed to give children a dedicated space for play. This lot type encourages social interactions between kids and provides chaperones during after-school hours. However, the update does not include pre-built playground equipment, so players must either build their own or download a lot from the gallery.
Play Pretend Interaction
Child Sims now have the Play Pretend interaction, which includes both solo and social modes. Options include:
- Fairy Tale Castle
- Play House
- Space Explorer
- Pirate Adventure
- Island Castaway
These thematic interactions enhance childhood gameplay, giving kids fun, imaginative activities that can be done alone or with other child Sims.
Beanie Color Variant
A new color variant for the base game beanie has been added. While minor, it updates base game assets, giving players more styling options for their Sims.
Cross-Pack Updates
- Mermaids now have a bassinet, addressing a long-standing gap for this occult type.
- Life and Death: Souls Journey gains updated tier satisfaction points.
- Memory Boost Early Access is available for Windows players starting September 23, aimed at improving performance, reducing lag, and preventing memory-related crashes. It is opt-in only.
Bug Fixes
The patch addresses both base game and pack-specific issues:
Base Game:
- Entrepreneurial trait career jumps fixed
- Sims writing books resume properly after interruptions
- Sims no longer always sit to drink water
- Interaction progress no longer resets
- Visual glitches like duplicate swatches and glowing signage corrected
Pack Fixes:
- Infant eyebrow swatches now ordered
- Shower towels no longer flicker
- Pet animations fixed in Cats & Dogs
- Mermaid bassinet now available in Island Living
- Fireplaces and certain furniture items correctly display swatches
- For Rent pack: tenant events now resolve properly
- Life and Death, Love Struck, Eco Lifestyle, Backyard Stuff, and more have minor visual and interaction fixes
Mod Users: A Word of Caution
- Remove your mods folder entirely before updating to avoid conflicts.
- Clear your cache and repair your game to prevent broken interactions or missing items.
- Reference sites like Sims VIP and Scarlet’s Realm for lists of mods that may require updates.
- Test the game in vanilla mode before re-enabling mods to identify potential conflicts.
Console players will receive the patch next week. They don’t use mods, but still face their own set of issues.
Final Thoughts
This update brings a mix of minor content additions, quality-of-life improvements, and important bug fixes. The playground venue and Play Pretend interactions are highlights, while the Memory Boost feature may improve performance for some players. Mod users must remain cautious, as conflicts with outdated content can still cause issues.
Overall, this update sets the stage for the upcoming Adventure Awaits expansion and demonstrates EA’s ongoing focus on stabilizing the base game before new content launches.
