The Sims 4 turned 10 years previous this week, bringing the longest-reigning sport within the sequence into double digits. It has been round so lengthy now that I typically overlook what it was like at launch: Again in 2014 it did not even have basements, as an illustration. After poring over previous patch notes for different examples, it seems I might forgotten about all types of different options that I’ve gotten used to taking without any consideration.
As a Sims participant, there’ll all the time be extra options I would like the sequence so as to add. Like, are we ever going to get vehicles in The Sims 4? I could often dip away to The Sims 3 to revisit options just like the open world and Create-A-Type, however The Sims 4 has made massive strides of its personal because it launched, including higher illustration of pores and skin colours and genders, in addition to introducing my beloved tiny homes. For its tenth anniversary, I wished to acknowledge how a lot additional The Sims 4 has modified. So here is a rundown on all of the options you probably forgot did not exist 10 years in the past.
2014
#1 Ghosts
This replace got here only a few months after The Sims 4 launched, however previous to Patch 5, Sims who died would simply… be useless. After the ghosts replace, the afterlife began to look far more like we all know it now, with ghost Sims who is usually a nuisance round the home by possessing objects and pranking dwell Sims or be added to the household to remain playable of their autopsy state.
#2 Swimming pools
I had utterly forgotten that The Sims 4 launched with out swimming swimming pools. It is a travesty that the unique launch was lacking such an necessary cultural touchstone for the sequence. With Patch 7, The Sims 4 acquired swimming swimming pools in Construct Mode and a swimwear class in Create-A-Sim. It additionally meant that Sims might die by drowning when operating out of power within the pool, however that complete “deleting the ladder to lure them” factor stays a relic of the previous, since Sims in The Sims 4 are capable of simply climb out of the sting of a pool on their very own.
2015
Family tree: Patch 12 added the family tree menu displaying the household tree in your Sims so you do not have to recollect off hand who’s associated to who in your massive Legacy problem.
#3 Basements
Wait, The Sims 4 did not even have basements when it launched? That may’t be proper. Oh however it’s. Constructing under floor stage was added in Patch 15, although on the time you had been solely capable of construct two flooring under the bottom. Nowadays, you may construct 4 basement ranges in The Sims 4, you already know, in your actually actually secret lairs. This patch additionally added jobs for townie Sims and the power to satisfy different Sims whereas at work with these drop down work efficiency decisions.
#4 Newcrest
Patch 20 for The Sims 4 looks like a giant one as a result of it added a complete world that I’ve completely taken without any consideration since then. The clean slate Newcrest neighborhood did not exist when The Sims 4 launched and gamers simply did not have sufficient empty heaps to make use of for constructing their very own properties. So in crashed Newcrest with 15 empty heaps in all types of sizes and truthfully, I’ve virtually by no means constructed a home in Willow Creek since then. Patch 20 additionally added the Welcome Wagon, that occasion the place all of your neighbors present up with fruitcake to say hiya to any new neighbor.
Half Partitions: Patch 21 added the helpful half wall function for all these ’90s type kitchen-to-den flooring plans or your trendy metropolis lofts with open bedrooms.
#5 Dishwashers
One more actually fundamental function from previous video games that I am shocked arrived a yr later—Patch 23 for The Sims 4 added dishwashers to Purchase Mode. This wasn’t an enormous patch, it was principally bug fixes and the dishwasher, however that looks like such a crucial addition. I do know dishwashers aren’t a given all around the world, however I virtually by no means construct a home in The Sims with out one. Particularly since designating sinks did not come till years later and Sims had been all the time so prone to scrub dishes within the toilet.
2016
#6 Gender customization
The Sims 4 made some massive adjustments to gender in Create-A-Sim with Patch 34. That is after we acquired the power to find out whether or not a Sim is ready to get pregnant and whether or not they use the bathroom sitting or standing. It additionally completely decoupled gender from type by making all clothes items, equipment, and hairstyles obtainable to Sims no matter gender. It was a giant deal on the time and Maxis shared that it had been engaged on the replace for over a yr and consulting with GLAAD throughout the course of.
Nannies: Patch 37 added the power to name a per-hour nanny service to look at over your smaller Sims. Reside Mode gamers rejoice, having two working dad and mom is lastly possible.
Residences: The discharge of the Metropolis Residing growth introduced flats to The Sims 4, at the least their first iteration. Rental items had been fairly restricted at this level, nevertheless it was good to embellish these excessive rise items.
2017
#7 Toddlers
All of us acquired so caught up in asking for the infants life stage (which got here later) that I completely forgot that toddlers did not get added till 2017. Previous to Patch 46, infants of their little bassinets would age up straight right into a strolling, speaking, school-bus-riding youngster. Childcare was such a small a part of The Sims 4 till this level however the toddlers patch added particular traits, abilities, garments, and interactions for tiny Sims.
Images: Patch 57 introduced the Images ability and the power to take selfies with a Sim’s cellphone which they may then beautify their properties with.
Merchandise resize hotkeys: The identical Patch 57 additionally gave new powers to Construct Mode gamers with the ‘[‘ and ‘]’ hotkeys for sizing up and down objects. I can not dwell with out resizing rugs and work now.
2018
Cold and warm outfits: Patch 68 alongside the Seasons growth added two new outfits to Create-A-Sim: sizzling climate and chilly climate. That is nice for Reside Mode gamers who benefit from the realism, however a trial for me having to design two further outfits for each Sim.
Gallery overhaul: In Patch 71, the Gallery acquired an overhaul to enhance hashtags, search features, and getting a number of the greatest user-created Sims and homes in entrance of you. Actually, the Gallery continues to be fairly wonky to at the present time, nevertheless it was wonkier.
I do not keep in mind a time after I did not have terrain instruments regardless of taking part in via it. The brushes for sculpting lot topography that we would had in The Sims 3 did not make it into The Sims 4 till Patch 73. After this, I began seeing all types of unimaginable pace builds like hobbit gap homes or castles with moats. The chances skyrocketed well past my modest abilities. Patch 73 was a fairly large one past this main function, additionally including the first-person digicam, extra basement ranges, extra half wall heights, and the power to call a customized profession for, say, your Sims who do not technically have a job however earn a living writing novels or hit songs.
2019
Debug gadgets cheat: Patch 82 added “bb.showliveeditobjects” to the record of Sims 4 cheats, giving construct mode gamers entry to all types of objects beforehand reserved to be used by the event group.
#9 Customized stairs
Again earlier than Patch 84, constructing a staircase with a fundamental touchdown required numerous finagling and I keep in mind watching a couple of tutorial on the topic. However with the addition of customizable stairs, all types of lavish homes turned commonplace. Now we are able to have spiraling stairwells (although nonetheless no precise spiral staircases), switchbacking fireplace escapes, and grand ballroom stairs too. This was actually a superb yr for the tryhard Construct Mode enjoyers amongst us.
2020
Tiny Homes: Patch 91 and the Tiny Residing stuff pack kicked off the tiny home craze in The Sims 4. Actually, I nonetheless construct tiny homes most of the time to at the present time.
That Sims 1 hottub: Patch 92 celebrated the Sims sequence twentieth anniversary with… only a sizzling tub. Certain, it was the enduring sizzling tub from the unique sport, nevertheless it felt like a reasonably meager celebration.
Ladders: Keep in mind after we all spent years begging to lastly have ladders? They lastly acquired added in Patch 95 forward of the Eco Life-style growth.
Platforms: That is one I did not even know I wished till I had it. Patch 103 alongside the Snowy Escape growth allow us to change the peak of particular person rooms with platforms and now it is one in all my go-to Sims 4 construct ideas.
#10 New pores and skin tones
After years of Sims 4 customized content material creators sharing new pores and skin tones, Patch 105 in 2020 lastly added over 100 extra default pores and skin tones to select from and a slider to freely select the shade you need as nicely. It was some time within the making after EA dedicated in summer season 2020 to enhancing its inclusivity of extra pores and skin colours and hairstyles. Just a few base sport kinds for textured hair acquired a tune-up on this patch and different hair kinds have been getting the identical therapy within the years since.
2021
Bunk beds: The Sims 4 added working bunk beds in Patch 109 and there was a lot rejoicing! Lastly kiddos can share one of the vital quintessential childhood experiences.
Likes and dislikes: Patch 113 introduced the system that allows you to resolve that your Sim loves the colour inexperienced, hates classical music, and loves grilled cheese.
Ponds: Patch 115 introduced the water device for including ponds, rivers, or no matter outdoorsy water options you want.
Nail polish: Patch 118 added nail polish as an adjunct class in Create-A-Sim and truthfully I can not keep in mind what life was like earlier than customized nails now.
The massive swatch drop: As a Construct Mode enjoyer, I distinctly keep in mind Patch 119 including tons of recent coloration swatches to base sport objects like kitchen counters, tables, bookcases, and curtains.
Eventualities: Patch 120 added problem eventualities to The Sims 4 with distinctive household dynamic setups and objectives to realize in addition to the Neighborhood Tales system permitting your townie Sims to have life adjustments with out your oversight.
2022
Customized pronouns: Patch 129 added the power to write down customized pronouns in your Sims. Along with default decisions he/she/they, you may as well write within the pronouns you need your Sim to make use of.
Sexual orientation: On the heels of the pronoun replace, Patch 132 added toggles for Sim sexual orientation to find out which genders they’re romantically and bodily interested in.
Curved partitions: Patch 132 additionally added long-requested curved partitions. The preliminary implementation was fairly buggy, they usually typically nonetheless could be, however hey our flooring plans are like 90% extra groovy than earlier than.
2023
Mild switches: Patch 140 added a ton of Create-A-Sim customization like surgical procedure scars and listening to aids, however I will be truthful and say I used to be most enthusiastic about gentle switches. They’re purely beauty, however I put them in all places now.
Toddler life stage: The primary new life stage since toddlers in 2017, the infants replace freed child Sims from their cribs and gave them their very own traits and interactions.
Residences (once more): The For Hire growth elaborated on the present flats in The Sims 4. Now we are able to construct rental buildings completely from scratch and lay out every unit simply how we like.
2024
Polyamory: Patch 162 this yr overhauled romantic relationships by letting you select your Sim’s romantic boundaries. This implies you may arrange all types of various polyamorous Sims households who’re completely satisfied to dwell alongside one another with out jealousy mucking up their lives.
