Unlock Your Sims’ Potential: Discover the Exciting New Businesses and Hobbies Expansion!

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Fans of The Sims 4 can look forward to a groundbreaking Expansion Pack arriving at the EA Store on March 6. This latest addition, called Businesses and Hobbies, won’t just offer the usual new Build and Buy items, Create-a-Sim (CAS) content, and a fresh world – it will also introduce long-awaited features in The Sims 4 that players have been eagerly requesting from EA and Maxis for years.

The Businesses and Pastimes Add-On was initially leaked in January, prior to its official reveal in the Motherlode Season blueprint. Not only did the Motherlode Season blueprint unveil Businesses and Pastimes, it also provided players with crucial dates associated with the Expansion Pack, such as the release date of its introductory trailer (February 6), the release date for its gameplay trailer (February 18), and the date when Businesses and Pastimes would become available. As is common with Expansion Packs for The Sims 4, both a first look and a gameplay trailer were released. Fortunately, the gameplay trailer for Businesses and Pastimes offered valuable insights to fans.

Businesses Are Revamped in The Sims 4

In terms of gameplay, Businesses and Hobbies packs a dual punch with two primary components: fresh business ideas and pastimes. From the first look at the Businesses and Hobbies Expansion Pack trailer by EA and Maxis, it seems they’ve given greater focus to businesses over hobbies. The new business gameplay was notably highlighted in this initial teaser, although the businesses displayed in the trailer also represent the recently introduced hobbies for The Sims 4.

How Sims 4 Businesses Can Now Be Run

In The Sims 4, there are various approaches to managing a business. Some methods are included in the base game, while others like running a restaurant require additional content (DLC). Instead of introducing a new kind of business in The Sims 4, Businesses and Hobbies offers players an opportunity to generate income from skills instead of just selling items. For instance, rather than receiving tips during a stand-up comedy performance, players can now establish a comedy club and charge entrance fees to profit off the skill.

In The Sims 4, players can utilize their businesses and hobbies to conduct skill-based lessons for an in-game currency called Simoleons. These sessions can only be led by Sims who have achieved a significant level of proficiency in the relevant skill. Both paid and free mentorship opportunities are available.

Monetized classes function like other jobs within The Sims 4, with tasks that must be completed within a set time frame. While some players might neglect their duties, consistently maintaining a high performance is crucial when teaching these courses since payment is only granted once the class has finished successfully. A poor performance will result in no monetary rewards.

Sims 4’s Businesses Can Now Have a Personal Tie

Small businesses within the game can be passed on or transferred among members of a Sim’s family household. It’s important to note that these businesses are individually owned by each Sim, not the entire household. This allows multiple Sims living in the same house to run their own distinct small businesses concurrently. For those who wish to maintain a business within the family, they can hire a household member as an employee. Businesses can accommodate up to three employees, each assigned specific tasks to ensure smooth operation.

Choosing wisely or unwisely will affect the number of Rewards Points a small business accumulates. These points are later utilized to obtain Benefits, reminiscent of earlier skill trees in The Sims 4. But be cautious, since decisions can not only harm the small business, but also strain personal relationships.

New Lot Types Head to The Sims 4

To facilitate the growth of gameplay within the business sector, EA and Maxis have introduced a new type of Lot called Small Business Lots. These lots can be found in the regular Build-and-Buy menu. However, players will need to register their small businesses, which includes tasks such as naming the business, designing a logo, outlining activities, setting entrance fees and price adjustments, and selecting customer demographics. Players can select up to five activities for their small business from a wide variety available across The Sims 4’s extensive DLC collection. This feature enables players to establish businesses such as cat cafes if they have the Cats & Dogs Expansion Pack, spas if they own the Spa Day Game Pack, acting schools if they own the Get Famous Expansion Pack, and more.

In addition to Small Business Lots, Build-and-Buy mode in The Sims 4 now also offers flexible lots. For a long time, Simmers have been requesting this feature, and it’s finally here! These new multipurpose lots can be tailored to players’ preferences, allowing them to decide the purpose of each room on a Lot. For instance, instead of having separate floors for residential and business use, individual rooms within a Lot can now be designated as spaces for residents, employees, or the general public.

New Hobbies for Sims to Develop

In the debut trailer for Businesses and Hobbies, we’ve showcased two exciting new abilities or pastimes that players can master. Now, you can teach your characters to do tattoo artistry or pottery making. Each of these talents comes with unique in-game tools such as kilns and tattoo machines. However, the tattooing skill extends the Character Creator (CAS) in The Sims 4, allowing players to create custom designs similar to the paint mode found in Cats & Dogs and Horse Ranch. You can now design your own patterns for your Sims to show off on their bodies, though they may eventually opt for tattoo removal. Additionally, these custom designs can be uploaded to the Gallery to share with fellow Sims enthusiasts.

As a devoted admirer of all things clay, I’ve always been captivated by the artistry of pottery – crafting pots, vases, and other ceramics is just one aspect of it. What truly intrigues me is the Japanese practice known as kintsugi. This unique mending technique transforms shattered pottery into a piece even more beautiful than before, by filling the cracks with gold, turning imperfections into treasured reminders of its history. Speaking of which, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the inclusion of pottery in The Sims 4 ever since it was first introduced in The Sims 2: Free Time, and I can hardly wait to see how they bring this skill to life!

Introducing just two fresh abilities in the Expansion Pack named “Businesses and Hobbies” has left some Sims players raising questions, but there are potentially two additional gameplay elements that could be classified as hobbies. The new mentor system comes with its own benefits, and as previously stated, it doesn’t necessarily require monetization. In the previews for the game, we can see the introduction of candy-making machines. Although Electronic Arts (EA) or Maxis have yet to provide details about candy making, there’s a possibility that this could be the fourth hobby featured in the expansion pack. Further details about The Sims 4’s latest Expansion Pack are expected to be unveiled as we approach its release date.

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2025-02-22 14:04