Sims 4 Update Adds Some Free New Features

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As a dedicated gamer, I’m thrilled to share that in August 2025, The Sims 4 has dropped an exciting free update! This new version brings some fantastic customization options for the Enchanted by Nature DLC expansion and even caters to players who only have the basic version of this amazing life simulator. Plus, it includes a nifty tool to effortlessly manage multiple DLC expansions at once!

Published on July 10th, Enchanted by Nature marks the 19th full DLC expansion for The Sims 4 since its debut in September 2014. Tailored to enthusiasts of the series who relish infusing a touch of supernatural allure into their virtual communities, it introduces the novel ability for Sims to transform into fairies. It also encompasses an apothecary career path, a harmonious lifestyle gameplay aspect, and an upgradable Natural Living skill for those seeking a more realistic gaming experience.

For those who’ve downloaded the latest DLC, the new free update provides players with enhanced capabilities to manage the transmission of ailments presented in Enchanted by Nature. These ailments can be acquired through various methods, such as intentional infection by fairies, and may exhibit both beneficial and detrimental symptoms and consequences. Previously, they were viewed as contagious, spreading easily among Sims who get too close to an infected one. However, this default setting is now customizable; players can choose to enable or disable the transmission of ailments using a new menu feature. Furthermore, since an imbalance in lifestyle increases vulnerability to ailment infection, players now have the choice to deactivate the Balanced Lifestyle system entirely.

The latest update introduces some fresh customization opportunities that cater to all gamers, as Maxis continues to strive for an inclusive community in The Sims 4. To make the game more authentic, a variety of features have been included in Create-a-Sim, such as realistic wrinkles and diverse skin tones. Adult Sims will now have additional wrinkle options for their mouths and bodies, while teenagers and older Sims gain a wider range of facial attributes like rosacea, dark spots, age spots, and under-eye bags. Moreover, new stretch marks and freckle options are available for the body.

Moreover, the recent upgrade introduces a useful feature for players who wish to begin anew with a pristine neighborhood within The Sims 4, particularly those who have various expansion packs installed. In their new game session, players can now utilize the Pack Selection tool to pick and choose which DLC they prefer to incorporate into their gameplay experience. This means that unwanted content won’t interfere with their current save, as it can be disabled without uninstalling the entire DLC. For instance, a player could opt for a neighborhood teeming with fairies but devoid of vampires or wizards by selecting only the desired DLC. However, this will also eliminate any associated items such as hairstyles and clothing options linked to that specific DLC.

The Sims 4 Update 1.117.221.1020 Patch Notes

What’s New?

  • New Skin Details: Wrinkles, Freckles, & More
  • New Skin Details have been added to Base Game! For teens and older, we’ve added a selection of Rosacea, Dark Spots, Age Spots, and Eye Bags for faces, as well as Stretch Marks and Freckles for bodies. For adult Sims, we’ve also added Mouth Wrinkles and Body Wrinkles. Learn more in our upcoming Dev Diary!

New Feature: Pack Selection

  • Pack Selection is a new feature allowing you to customize your experience when starting a new save based on the stories you want to tell and the experiences you want to build. This helps free up resources on your PC, Mac, or consoles without needing to uninstall packs you don’t currently use. Please note that once you’ve started a save, removing packs may affect the save itself, so this feature is best utilized when creating new saves to optimize performance.
  • Disabling packs will remove pack-specific content like hair, clothing, objects, and gameplay functions.
  • Check out our step by step guild, FAQ or our forums to report issues and provide feedback.

DirectX 11 (DX11) Updates

  • We’ve improved DirectX 11 for PC users with Intel GPUs.
  • Intel GPU users will automatically default to the DX11 executable. Players with GPUs that are not Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD will continue to use DX9.
  • For detailed DirectX 11 information and instructions on entering launch arguments for the EA app and Steam, please visit our guide.

Performance Updates

  • In this patch, we’ve made several optimizations to enhance your gameplay experience.
  • Enhanced rendering performance for smoother visuals.
  • Improved responsiveness by optimizing how graphics are processed.
  • Fixed issues causing crashes when certain graphics settings were used.
  • Addressed shadow flickering to ensure more stable reflections in water.
  • Resolved problems with lighting to maintain consistent brightness throughout gameplay.
  • Enchanted by Nature Ailments Option
  • In Game Options, the latest expansion pack now has a Pack Settings option for “Ailment Spread”! Unchecking “Enable Ailment Spread” will contain Ailments to Sims that have contracted it, so other Sims won’t catch it. It’s like a sickness that isn’t contagious! You still can have Fairies deliberately give Ailments to other Sims, Naturopaths still will be able to treat clients who have Ailments, and becoming Very Imbalanced can result in Ailments. To play without that last consequence, just uncheck the “Enable Balance & Imbalance” checkbox. This will prevent Sims from getting an Ailment from being Very Imbalanced (because they won’t get Very Imbalanced at all).

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2025-08-20 17:35