New Sims 4 Update Addresses Critical Gameplay Disruptions

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Maxis recently released a fix for The Sims 4 to address frustrating issues that caused marriage ceremonies to freeze and family trees to display incorrectly throughout February 2026. This update comes as the game undergoes big changes. After a year that fans felt was inconsistent, the developers seem to be focusing on making the game more stable and being more open about their plans. With the mobile game shutting down in January and speculation about a potential royalty-themed expansion being the last major update, players are closely watching what’s next for The Sims 4.

Even with new projects like the mobile game “Project Rene” and a possible remake called “Project X” on the horizon, the developers are still focused on improving the current game. Throughout 2026, they’ve been working to correct inaccurate information and using player feedback to fix ongoing problems. They’re trying to introduce new features while also ensuring the game, which is built on older technology, continues to run well for its many players.

Addressing Critical Live Mode Disruptions

A new update was released on February 19th to fix several important bugs in The Sims 4. This targeted fix addresses problems that appeared after the recent “Royalty & Legacy” content update. The patch is now available on all platforms, including PCs, Macs, and PlayStation/Xbox consoles.

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Wow, this is already the third big update for the game this month! It’s awesome to see the developers are really on top of things, releasing this just a week after the last hotfix. It seems like they’re paying close attention to what we’re all saying on the EA Forums, which is great. As someone who loves using mods, I’m relieved to hear from the community that this update seems pretty minor and shouldn’t mess up most of our files, but of course, I’m still backing up my saves just in case!

This update fixes a critical issue that caused the game to freeze during wedding ceremonies. Many players reported their games would completely stop responding when their Sims tried to get married, which was especially frustrating for long-time players who depend on these events to advance their game. EA_Cade shared details about the problem on the official Discord.

This update focuses on fixing major problems with the Family Tree feature, which many players found unusable. A report on the EA Forums detailed how the interface was broken with overlapping portraits, missing family connections, and distracting visual glitches. The official patch notes confirm these issues – including portraits overlapping due to hidden family members and crashes when selecting relatives – have been addressed.

As the team fixes technical issues, the world of The Sims 4 is finding new ways to connect with its biggest fans. EA and Maxis have announced updates to The Sims Creator Program, giving players who share their creations online even more benefits. The official Sims Blog explains that the program is expanding beyond just early access to games and will now include training on how to grow their online channels and technical help for fundraising events.

Even though people are talking about a last big expansion for the game, the developers are clearly investing more in the community around it. By welcoming a wider range of players – including those who enjoy relaxed gameplay, artists, and those who don’t focus on streaming – Maxis is trying to build a more welcoming community. It’s unclear if these improvements and updates are a quiet period before a big change for The Sims 4, but at least now players can get married in the game without worrying about it crashing.

The Sims 4 Update Hotfix Patch Notes

Bug Fixes

Base Game / Multipack

Live Mode

  • [EA Forums] Resolved an issue found in some save files where the game would freeze when Sims are getting married.
  • Family Tree portraits will no longer overlap after a Spouse’s death when there’s a Secret Child.
  • [EA Forums] Resolved an issue in some saves where missing connections were appearing in the Family Tree and Sims portraits were not highlighted when selected.
  • [EA Forums] Resolved an issue where the game would stop responding when clicking on a Sim from the Family Tree in some save files.

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2026-02-20 02:05