Sims 4 Players Sneak Hate Symbols into Game with New Tattoo Mechanics

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Summary

  • Some Sims 4 players are sneaking hate symbols into the game using new tattoo creation mechanics.
  • Players can now run tattoo parlors in-game, leading to offensive tattoos surfacing in The Gallery.
  • The Sims 4 community hopes developers will vigilantly remove offensive content and urges reporting.

Some users of “The Sims 4” video game have been employing a fresh gameplay feature to embed symbols symbolizing hate associated with Nazism into what is typically a warm and inviting life simulator. The capability for intricate tattoo design, a skill-based addition to the gameplay of “The Sims 4,” was recently introduced, and some users are already expressing displeasure over the tattoos they’re encountering in The Gallery.

In addition to learning pottery, players can now master tattooing as a fresh skill in the Businesses & Hobbies expansion pack for The Sims 4, which was launched on March 6, 2025. This expansion offers players the opportunity to establish and manage small businesses directly from their Sims’ homes or new small business locations, and there’s an option to blend these two aspects together, enabling Sims to operate a tattoo parlor of their own.

In the updated game version, you gain an additional liberty to design unique tattoo patterns which can be shared via The Gallery, a community space where players exchange custom creations. Although The Sims 4 Gallery has safeguards to prevent offensive content, it’s been reported on Reddit that some tattoos with Nazi hate symbols were visible upon initial visit to The Gallery after installing the new DLC expansion. Initially, the player didn’t specify the symbol, only mentioning “Yes, that one,” but later clarified that they were swastikas, one with a red backdrop. It appears these offensive designs managed to sneak in using keywords related to European heritage. The offending files have been reported to Maxis, the game developers, for removal.

Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Player Reports Swastika Tattoos in The Gallery

On different occasions, games have contained Nazi symbols that players have pointed out. In 2021, for instance, a player from Ukraine detected a Neo-Nazi symbol within the logo of Chimera Squad in Call of Duty: Warzone, which resembled the imagery used by a local Neo-Nazi group. The similarities between the game’s graphics and those of the hate group were striking, prompting the developers to edit or censor the image in various parts of the world.

Before that particular report in 2017, Bungie had already taken action against armor in Destiny 2 that might have hinted at symbols associated with white nationalism from the internet. Similarly, players of The Sims 4 are optimistic that Maxis will continue to monitor and remove any future uploads of offensive tattoos. They encourage the community to report any they come across, rather than ignoring intolerance.

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2025-03-09 03:57