Every Piece of Cut Content for The Sims 4 (& How They Would’ve Changed the Game)

When The Sims 4 was released in 2014, many fans were confused, frustrated, and disappointed. Experienced players quickly realized that many features they expected were missing. This base game felt limited compared to previous installments known for their freedom and unpredictability. Though some missing features, like toddlers and swimming pools, were later added through updates, others were never included.

As a huge Sims fan, it’s always fascinating to learn what almost made it into The Sims 4! It’s easy to assume anything missing is ‘cut content,’ but apparently, some features – like Create-a-Style or the fully open world from The Sims 3 – were never actually promised for the game. What is really interesting, though, is all the stuff developers clearly did plan, start building, or even partially finish, but then decided to scrap. I’ve been looking into all the known ‘cut content’ and it’s amazing to think about how different the game could have been if these ideas had made the final cut!

Base Game: The Systems That Could’ve Made The Sims 4 Deeper From Day One

Unused Traits in The Sims 4

Sims’ personalities, or traits, control how they act, respond to situations, and develop over time, but some of these traits were never fully completed or were taken out of the game.

Rebellious: Found in the game files after Patch 88, this trait was left incomplete and never surfaced in gameplay. While not to be confused with the Parenthood phase of the same name, it suggests a more persistent defiance that could have long-term behavioral consequences as an adult. A similar idea eventually resurfaced as Disruptive in the Enchanted by Nature EP.
Never Nude: While no functional trait exists, unused Create-a-Sim animations reference it directly. Its inclusion could have added more depth to modesty, body autonomy, or personality-driven reactions, areas that The Sims 4 often simplifies.

Create-a-Sim Photobooth (Scrapped)

Initial test versions of the game let players take photos of their Sims right after designing them, featuring special poses and scenic backgrounds inspired by Willow Creek. Although some of those poses were later used during normal gameplay photography, the feature itself would have made creating Sims feel more personal and meaningful.

Prototype World Select Globe

Early versions of the game included a 3D world select screen that showed all neighborhoods together, unlike the separate menus we see in the final version of The Sims 4. Removing this feature highlights how divided and separate the different parts of the game eventually became. This original globe would have helped players understand the game world better.

Suggests a more connected world structure
Possibly hints at shared geography or travel logic
Would have visually reinforced the idea of a unified Sim universe instead of the compartmentalization that happens in the manage worlds selection menu in The Sims 4

Standing Interactions: Chess & Computers

Hidden files show that The Sims once allowed players to play chess standing up and use computers without needing a chair. These small details would have made public areas in the game feel more dynamic and realistic.

Child Romance (Removed)

The game contains some old files related to romantic interactions between child Sims, but these interactions were removed from the game. Although understandable given ethical concerns, the fact these files remain shows the system used to allow for more possibilities. Ultimately, it was a good choice to revise how age restrictions work.

The Jacobs Test Household

We found a ‘Jacobs’ family hidden within the game files, which appears to have been used for testing how different game packs work together. This family is wearing clothes from downloadable content even without those packs installed, and only has personality traits available in the expansion packs for The Sims 4. It’s clear this family wasn’t meant for players – it’s a leftover from internal testing that reveals how the game’s technical features were developed.

Audible Neighbor Activities (Removed)

When The Sims 4 first came out, players could hear sounds from their neighbors’ homes – things like TVs, music, and cooking. This feature, which made the game world feel more alive, was removed with the Outdoor Retreat expansion and hasn’t been brought back. Without it, apartments and other shared living spaces feel noticeably less lively and quiet.

Whims (Replaced)

Whims were short-term goals, a gentler version of Sims’ desires. They were removed in an update (Patch 132) and replaced with a more complex system called Wants & Fears in The Sims 4. Although the new system is more detailed, some players fondly remember how Whims created a more spontaneous and easygoing play style.

The Sims 4’s Expansion & Game Packs Had Plenty of Cut Content That Could Have Changed The Experience

Get Together

I remember seeing some early artwork for Windenburg that had these awesome harvest stands right in the town square! They ended up cutting them from the final game, which was a bummer. Apparently, the idea was that you could buy produce at them, and they were originally planned to work a bit differently depending on whether you had the City Living or Cottage Living packs – you could only buy in City Living, but both buy and sell with Cottage Living. Honestly, it felt like something was missing in those communal areas without them, especially when the expansion pack first came out. It would have been cool to have a real local market vibe!

City Living

Apparently, four complete but unused households exist for San Myshuno:

Pond (Jimmy & Alaina)
Powers (Randy, Lily, Kennedy)
Riveria (Rita Riviera & Memphis Waters)
Campbells (Andy Campbells, Iko Yono, Joel Meadows)

Taking those characters out reduced the rich sense of community and background stories in what was meant to be the most detailed part of the game. Plus, the original look for Penny Pizzazz is still hidden in the game’s code, but players can’t actually use it.

Seasons

Initial tests revealed snow accumulating realistically in residential areas. However, it built up on all surfaces except roads and building lots, which presented technical challenges and led to the feature being removed. While proper snow depth wasn’t fully implemented until the Snowy Escape expansion, even then it was restricted to specific locations.

Island Living

There’s a hammock model in the game files that isn’t working, even if you try to enable it with cheats. It’s disappointing because the hammock feels like a natural fit for a game focused on relaxation and island living.

Snowy Escape

The Snowy Escape expansion pack draws heavily from Japanese culture and originally featured interactions like bowing and taking selfies at shrines. These were taken out after players in South Korea expressed concerns, but they weren’t completely removed from the game’s code—players can still access them using modifications. This shows how feedback about cultural representation influenced the game’s development even after it was finished.

A roof decoration was included in early versions of the Snowy Escape expansion pack, but it was taken out right before release. Developers said it was due to a technical problem, and it hasn’t been added back in since.

Journey to Batuu

The lightsaber effects in Journey to Batuu were upgraded from the initial versions. The original, simpler effects are still included in the game’s data.

What The Sims 4’s Cut Content Really Tells Us

As a long-time Sims fan, looking at all the stuff that didn’t make it into The Sims 4 is really interesting. It makes me realize a lot of what we thought were just limitations of the game weren’t because the developers weren’t trying to make a great life simulation. It seems like they had to change plans, make some tough technical choices, and adjust things as they were building the game. It wasn’t a lack of vision, just a shifting focus during development.

Over time, some planned features made it into The Sims 4, while others were dropped altogether. A select few, such as more realistic neighborhood sounds or more complex personality traits, could have dramatically improved the game’s overall feel. The Sims 4 isn’t simply what it is today; it’s also a product of all the ideas that didn’t quite make the cut.

2026-01-21 18:06