September 18th Base Game Update
The Sims 4 has just rolled out a fresh base game update that introduces several new features and bug fixes, as well as some quality of life improvements. Here’s a breakdown of everything included in this patch:
Playground Venue
One of the most anticipated additions is the new playground venue lot type. It’s a great way for kids to gather and interact in a dedicated space for their age group. However, there’s a catch—Maxis didn’t provide a pre-made playground lot. Instead, players are required to build or download their own. This lack of pre-made content has left some simmers frustrated, but it’s a nice new lot type for those who enjoy creating custom lots for their worlds.
New Play Pretend Interaction for Kids
Another exciting feature for children in The Sims 4 is the Play Pretend interaction. This new social and solo activity lets kids engage in imaginative play, such as pretending to be pirates, exploring space, or playing in a fairy tale castle. This interaction provides a fun, simple way to add more depth to childhood gameplay. The best part? Kids can play pretend with each other autonomously, adding more dynamic interactions between Sims.
Beanie Color Variant
There’s also a new color variant for the base game beanie. While this might not be a groundbreaking addition, it’s a nice update for players looking to refresh their Sims’ wardrobes with some cozy new items.
Cross-Pack Updates
In addition to base game improvements, some cross-pack updates were added:
- Mermaids now get their own bassinet. After being underrepresented as an occult, this small update is a nice gesture, but fans are hoping for more updates to mermaid gameplay.
- Life and Death Souls Journey has received a tuning update with added satisfaction points for each tier.
- Memory Boost feature is available for Windows players as early access, designed to help improve performance and reduce lag. It is an opt-in feature that could help with memory-related crashes.
Bug Fixes
As always, bug fixes are a big part of any update, and this one addresses a wide range of issues:
- Entrepreneurial trait no longer causes sudden career jumps.
- Sims writing books can now properly resume after interruptions.
- Sim water drinking behavior has been fixed, and they will no longer always sit to drink water.
- Visual glitches, like eyeglasses appearing as sunglasses, have been resolved, and other small issues across various packs have been addressed, such as nail polish color glitches and flickering animations.
Known Issues and Bugs
Despite the fixes, there are still several known issues, particularly with the For Rent pack, where tenant events remain broken. Some players have also reported issues with vampire and fairy child Sims not being able to use the “privy bush” interaction, and mermaid and vampire Sims experiencing glitches.
New Kit: Autumn Apparel Kit
In addition to all these updates, a new kit has been leaked: the Autumn Apparel Kit. This kit features cozy fall clothing, including:
- Beanies, sweaters, scarves, and stylish boots.
- Darker warm autumn tones perfect for the season.
While this kit may appeal to fans of fall fashion, it’s still unclear whether it will live up to expectations. Some simmers have expressed excitement, while others remain skeptical about how much value it will add to the game.
Final Thoughts
The September 18th update brings a mix of new content, bug fixes, and quality of life improvements. The new playground venue and play pretend interaction are a welcome addition for those who enjoy focusing on childhood gameplay, but the lack of pre-made playground lots is a missed opportunity. The update also addresses some long-standing bugs, but as always, there’s still room for improvement.
What do you think about the new playground venue and Play Pretend interactions? Are you excited about the Autumn Apparel Kit, or do you think it’s just another small addition to the game? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
