Several days ago, The Sims 4 received a new expansion pack titled High School Years. As its name suggests, the latest expansion focuses on teens' lives at school. However, before the release of The Sims 4: High School Years, the base game received a massive update accessible to all Sims 4 players regardless of what expansion pack they have installed.
Unfortunately, shortly after the update's release, Sims 4 players reported several bugs that caused many issues, such as the possibility of incest, rapid aging, and unintended fame. However, EA reassured fans that it is now working on a fix that should roll out soon. Despite current issues, the update introduced an extensive amount of new content to the game that should make the gameplay exciting.
Sims 4 Update: Wants and Fears
One of the biggest features of the latest Sims 4 update is Wants and Fears, replacing the game's Whims mechanic. Of course, veteran simmers would know that Wants and Fears were first introduced in Sims 2, but they will work slightly differently in Sims 4. The new Wants mechanic will have a few different types, such as complex wants, which are more long-term, simple wants, and situational wants, which are based on where a Sim is and what they are doing.
On the other hand, Fears won't be available at the beginning of a playthrough, given that they are formed as Sims go through their lives. For example, Sims who are currently in a relationship may develop a fear of being cheated on, or Sims who have experienced a house fire may develop a fear of fire. Additionally, the development of specific Fears will vary given that aside from experiences, they are also based on a Sim's existing traits.
Sims 4 Update: Curved Walls
Next is an update on the building portion of the game with the addition of curved walls. Previously, Sims 4 players could only choose between straight and diagonal walls, limiting building possibilities. Similar to Wants and Fears, curved walls are a returning feature from Sims 3. Players will find curved walls in their own section in Build Mode and can be combined with different wall types. However, it is worth knowing that not all doors and windows work with curved walls.
Sims 4 Update: Sexual Orientation
Although The Sims franchise is known for its inclusive romance options, there were no settings to determine who a Sim is attracted to. In the latest update, players can now set which gender their Sim is interested in romantically and have WooHoo. This new option allows players to customize their Sim's sexuality as they choose. Additionally, it is worth noting that the game also allows players to have no preferences at all, allowing them to have WooHoo or a relationship with any Sim they choose.
Sims 4 Update: Phone Improvements
Like in real life, smartphones have been an essential gadget for Sims and are heavily utilized in the game. However, the previous UI of smartphones in Sims 4 is widely considered clunky by many players. Luckily, the latest update fixes just that by updating the phone's design with new icons to make the UI easier to use.
Additionally, new selfie poses are available in the latest update, giving Sims plenty of emotional expressions to use when snapping a pic. Moreover, Sims can now video call each other, though it doesn't differ much from a regular phone call. Of course, the addition of new selfie poses and video calls would come in handy for teens in the new High School Years DLC. However, as previously mentioned, every new feature in the latest update is accessible to all Sims 4 players.
Sims 4 Update: Body Hair
Lastly, the latest Sims 4 update includes a myriad of new options for body hair in Create a Sim mode. Previously, players would have to settle for the limited body hair options offered in CAS or venture out to the modding community for better options. Players can apply hair to a Sim's legs, arms, torso, and backs in several styles. The body hair feature is available for Sims in their teens and higher.
The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.