TS4 Update Patch Notes (18 September 2024) - New Items & More

The Sims 4 is getting a brand new update and this one is huge. It comes shortly after the announcement that there won't be The Sims 5 and Maxis will be focusing on Project Rene instead. 

The new TS4 update, released on September 18, includes fixes, and quality-of-life changes, along with 30 new items and 650 new variants. There's a lot to explore so without any further ado, here are the changes you can expect:

TS4 Update - 18 September 2024

One of the most important things about The Sims 4 update is the Memory Usage Reduction. There will be frequent memory updates to prevent crashes and improve stability. The restructured data storage will make the gameplay faster. Optimized render target allocation will reduce load times in high-resolution settings.

The new update introduces 30 new items such as the Cha Cha Real Tall Sliding Door and The Island Mahogany Grand Sliding Door.

There will be lots of new swatches for objects such as The Whipped Dream Cupcake Factory, the Hipster Hugger couch, the Simpicit-Ease Chair, and many more.

Performance Changes

• Reducing Memory Usage:

  • Frequent Memory Updates - Increased the frequency of memory usage data updates to prevent out-of-memory crashes.

• Improving Simulation Performance:

  • Streamlining Data Storage - We restructured how we store game data to reduce the overhead of using Python objects, making the game run faster and use less memory.
  • Efficient Buff Generation - Reworked how temporary data is generated and stored to fix previous issues and optimize memory usage.

• Reducing Load Times:

  • Optimizing Render Target Allocation - Stopped unnecessary allocation of large color targets during certain rendering processes, now saving valuable memory especially in high-resolution settings.

DirectX 11 (DX11) Updates

We’re pleased to announce improvements to the DirectX 11 executable for PC users. While these updates are focused on Windows PC’s, Xbox Simmers will also see benefits from these changes as the Xbox runs a console-based variant of DirectX 11. Here’s what to expect:

• NVIDIA and AMD

  • NVIDIA and AMD Graphics Cards
    • Players using NVIDIA and AMD GPUs will now automatically default to the DX11 executable. Players on other GPUs like Intel, will continue to enjoy The Sims 4 on DX9 until a later update.
  • DirectX 11 Enhancements
    • Faster Graphics Processing - Implemented changes to how graphics data is updated, reducing delays between the CPU and GPU for smoother gameplay.
  • Performance Boost with Constant Buffers (cbuffers)
    • This enhances performance by reducing overhead and managing memory more efficiently. Users with mid to high-end GPUs should notice improved performance!
  • New DirectX 9 Option in Graphics Setting
    • By default, Simmers on NVIDIA and AMD GPUs will launch The Sims 4 using DX11. If you prefer, you can switch to DX9 via Game Options > Graphics and enable the DirectX 9 toggle before re-launching The Sims 4 to play using DirectX 9.

• Intel

  • Ongoing Intel Development
    • We are continuing development on bringing DirectX 11 to Intel GPU based PC’s but it needs a little longer before we can bring it to Simmers as the default option. For now Intel based Simmers will continue to use DirectX 9 when running The Sims 4.
  • DirectX 11 Opt-In
    • DirectX 11 is available for those Simmers who want to try it, including those using an Intel GPU, you may experience visual issues with mods. We recommend disabling all mods while using the -dx11 command line argument.

For detailed information about DirectX 11 and instructions on how to enter launch arguments for both the EA App and Steam, please visit here. If you encounter any issues with DirectX, you can find assistance here.

The Gallery

• Pack filters now properly work for Home Chef Hustle in The Gallery and library. No more hiding.

Base Game Changes

• Outdoor lighting will no longer affect inside the room through ceilings. Let there be (proper) light.
• When attempting to save, “Error Code: 0“ no longer occurs related to Gigs or Neighborhood Stories.
• Addressed an additional issue where the game would fail to load and display Error Code 123 when traveling between lots.
• Clay and Future Cubes will no longer get left on lots during events. Pick up your trash and leave nothing behind.
• Frogs, mice and fishes in tanks are now visible when placed in laptop mode. Welcome back, friends!
• Sims will put their tablets and homework back into their inventory instead of placing them in the world as long as they are standing or sitting. Again, stop littering, Sims!
• The call is not coming from inside the house–you'll stop getting invitational phone calls from your own Household Members.
• “Complete a Daily Work Task” Want now completes properly after finishing a daily work task. Work work work.
• Children now have the option to quit their “After School Activity“. Although quitters never prosper.
• Thought bubbles of Sims will no longer appear through walls and floors. Keep your thoughts to yourself.
• Family fortune - “Heal Negative Sentiments” task will now properly complete.
• Sims will return from work or school and switch into the same Everyday Outfit they had on instead of defaulting to the first Everyday Outfit in the Create a Sim list. You will wear what I tell you to wear, Sim!
• Certain cabinet/shelf combinations over kitchen sinks will no longer prevent Sim from washing in the sink. No excuses for not cleaning up after yourself.
• Outdoor shadows now move smoothly without jumping on the screen on ultra graphics settings and at different Live Mode speeds.
• Camera jittering is no longer observed in Build Buy mode after using Terrain Tools.
• When recent neighborhood stories mention a Sim that died in another neighborhood, switching to the respective Sim household will now have an urn present. RIP.
• Upgrading washer/dryer now completes Nerd Brain Aspiration.
• Sims will now hold the acarajé dish the right way while eating. It’s delicious however you eat it, though.
• Autonomous check infant no longer causes new random cold weather outfit to be generated for infant. They’re not cold.
• Infant no longer stretches when crawling in deep snow. Although we question why you’re letting your infant crawl in the snow.
• Teen Sim is able to take vacation days while working in the lifeguard career. It’s only fair.
• Event goals remain visible  even after editing from the Calendar.
• Siblings can no longer be set as engaged in Create a Sim.
• The Teen Goal Oriented Aspiration now gets completed properly after getting promoted at work.
• Investigating missing Doodlepip splines. Reticulation progressing.
• “Become friends with“ Want no longer appears for Sims with relationships equal or above friends. We’re already friends.
• World icons on the world selection screen no longer move when middle-clicked.
• Locked seed packets are unlocked in BB when using the gardening skill cheat “stats.set_skill_level Major_Gardening 10”. Gimme my seeds!
• Female Sims' stomachs will no longer become invisible when paired with Masculine cargo pants in certain color swatches.
• “Likes/Dislikes“ Sim preferences are now available for Sims created via Create a Sim Stories.
• Sim animation will no longer pop when sitting on a stool and asking another Sim an inappropriate question.
• Sim thumbnails are no longer low resolution on the Resume button.
• Re-fixed issue where Skill List gets out of order, specifically when switching between Sims.
•  ‘ymTop_TshirtRolled_Yellow' top no longer clips with bottoms in Create a Sim.
• Event Goals created through the Calendar properly show up during the Event, even if you edit the Event.

Changes Affecting Multiple Packs

• In apartments, University dorms, and penthouses: Walls and doors will now cut away properly in wall down/cutaway viewing mode. Adjusted checks for exterior walls and inactive units.
• Vampire scars are no longer observed while creating a genetics-based Spell Caster Sim, and any scars generated can now be removed (mouth, eye, cheeks and brow details).
• Werewolf/Vampire Sims will swap to occult form and vice-versa after the animation instead of before or during.
• Nails no longer cause shoulder tears on ‘yfTop_EP08SweaterScarf_Solid’ and ‘ymBody_EF90Djellaba_Solid’ outfits.
• Leather Pants no longer overlap with low boots.

TS4 Get to Work Changes

• Sim targeted by the Simray now change to the proper blue skin tone.
• Child eyebrows now update to match their hair color in Create a Sim.

TS4 City Living Changes

• Strange wall patches and gaps are no longer visible in Wall Down View in San Myshuno Apartments.
• Food stalls in San Myshuno no longer disappear after coming out of Create a Sim and Manage Worlds.
• Snow no longer appears inside the Planet Honey Pop building.

TS4 Cats & Dogs Changes

• Feline friends rejoice!  “Give Catnip Treat” action to cats will no longer cancel. The cat deserves a treat!

TS4 Seasons Changes

• Sim will now receive a vacuum along with the vacuum dock as a Holiday gift. Wow…a vacuum. That’s just exactly what I wanted. Thank you?
• The “lose weight” New Year's resolution will now be properly completed. But really, you look great just as you are.
• Holiday Decoration Box’ will no longer become unowned after moving to another Residential lot or Residential Rental lot–take those holiday memories with you!
• The “Countdown to Midnight“ tradition on all TVs now can be completed.

TS4 Discover University Changes

• Sim will return from visiting the law class as a guest speaker–in both judge or private attorney branches–whether through the phone or the building interaction. We don’t know where they were previously going. Very sus.
• Sims without the Active Trait will no longer get trait-related buffs when playing with a soccer ball.
• “Contribute Knowledge” will now satisfy Writing Aspiration on a Research Archive Machine goal counting towards the “Senior Scholar” milestone Academic Aspiration
• Servo's graduation portrait now shows an accurate picture.

TS4 Eco Lifestyle Changes

• Other Sims will stop stressing you out by constantly making de-stressing decoctions autonomously in the neighborhood or in the active Sim's lot during Self-Sufficiency Neighborhood Action Plan
• Notifications for a Neighborhood  Action Plan  no longer trigger with the option turned off and only send the notification if the Eco Footprint feature is enabled.
• Stacking sun rays/aurora no longer get stuck loading.
• Blue void lines no longer appear in Evergreen Harbor.

TS4 Snowy Escape Changes

• The platform roof at 2-4-3 Wakabamori now looks correct…
• Fun and Social Needs no longer reduce while Hiking together. Exercise is fun. Everyone knows that.

TS4 Cottage Living Changes

• Finchwick Fair results no longer appear during Sports Day Competition results.

TS4 High School Years Changes

• Teen Sims no longer randomly stop taking exams.
• Teen Sims can travel to prom even if Principal Mei Prescott is not alive.
• Sims are paid in full for WFH tasks for Simfluencer/Video Game Streamer career.

TS4 Growing Together Changes

• San Sequoia’s world map properly loads into all lots and avoids corrupted white screens.
• Left-Side Work of Modern Art Window’ is now properly transparent.

TS4 Horse Ranch Changes

• [Goats and Sheep now have “Care”, “Put In Inventory”, and “Trade For” interactions right after moving to a new lot.
• There is now self-interaction on the Sim to walk to Dreadhorse Caverns.

TS4 For Rent Changes

• You can now select and edit wall heights on Residential Rentals without having to delete and replace the walls.
• Ownership no longer disappears from objects after “Move Household“.
• Kettle and Pressure Cooker no longer randomly disappear from inventory.
• The “Do You Be-leaf in Concrete?“ red/orange swatch and green/gray swatch displays properly.
• Work From Home Sims in the Handyperson career will be properly paid.
• On rental properties when someone dies, you are now given a headstone/urn.
• Visits from property owner Panya count towards the “Have the Property Owner Visit your Unit“ goal for the Discerning Dweller Aspiration.
• Lot Traits and Lot Challenges stay selected for Residential Rental lot units when converted from Residential or Venue lot.
• “Venue Funds Transfer” button no longer appears for community lots.
• Able to enter a vacation rental unit by using phone and last exception no longer triggers when loading the save.
• When objects are being repossessed, the Utility BIlls and Unpaid Taxes properly update in Bills Info Panel.
• Unit Details text no longer overlap when hovering on Residential Rental lots in Map View
• When bills are delivered while you are in another world, it will now process utilities correctly.

TS4 Lovestruck Changes

• Players who had saved after using Cupid’s Corner while Gallery Sims were not available were still not getting Gallery Sims there after the previous update. NOW everyone who is online and has the feature enabled should see them.
• Vet Clinics can no longer be a venue for Create a Date events. Find a different place to get to know your date!
• Activities from packs you do not own now cannot be selected for a Create a Date activity.
• Saved games that have used Cupid's Corner now stay at an appropriate size.
• Sims with a special role (such as Bartender or Librarian) that are invited on a Date now join even though they're very busy at work and just trying to do their job.
• The occasional occurrence of a blank Create a Date goal has been fixed.
• Changing a Create a Date event from the calendar from no goals to goals enabled and then switching back to no goals will now correctly remove the goals from the event.
• The Romantic Explorer and Paragon Partner goal for going on a date will now be completed properly if the date does not have goals enabled.
• The goal “Use Romantic Blanket” for the Romantic Explorer Aspiration now lights up when completed.
• The interface to “Create Your Own Relationship Label“ now works properly with a controller or when switching between Keyboard/Mouse and a controller on consoles.
• When setting up Household Relationships in Create a Sim, all the Romance Dynamics options are selectable now for Sims towards the bottom of the list on console.
• The “Romance Enthusiasts” category is now available under “Attraction Characteristics” in Create a Sim Preferences.
• A few objects were not properly sorting or filtering due to missing tags. The following objects have been fixed: Rose Radiance Flower Bouquet (flowerBouquet_EP16GENlove), Herbert Heart (sculptTableMedium_EP16GENplush), Exotic Elegance Flower Bouquet (flowerBouquet_EP16GENmodern), Tri-Aviary Love Symphony Sculpture (sculptTableMedium_EP16GENloveBirds), Floral Symphony Flower Bouquet (flowerBouquet_Ep16GENvariety), Draped Desires (sculptFloor_EP16GENcanopyStraight), Flexible Three-Seat Loveseat (sitLoveseat2x1_EP16GENartsy), Delicate Iron Bench (sitLoveseat2x1_EP16GENparkIron), and Couples Crest Bench (sitLoveseat2x1_EP16GENartistic).
• When using The García Amor Costume Trunk, the Sim's portrait at the bottom of the screen now updates to reflect the costume they are wearing.
• Romantic interactions should no longer be available for family members at the gym.

TS4 Dine Out Changes

• Interactions are now available on culinary pot racks.
• Removed instances of duplicate menu items in Restaurants.
• Photo of experimental food no longer changes upon adding frame.

TS4 My Wedding Stories Changes

• There are new interactions on the wedding arch that will allow you to set which Sims to sit on either side of the aisle.
• You will now be able to pick which Sims perform the requested behavior when clicking on the wedding arch and do Ceremony Activities. This will allow greater control of what is happening in the wedding.
• After telling guests to do a ceremony activity, they'll stop doing other things autonomously.
• Music specific interaction is now available on the wedding arch in order to control when wedding music plays.
• The text of these new interactions above will be translated into all supporting languages in an upcoming release.
• Sims gather around without getting stuck as the wedding couple dances.
• Sims will properly perform “Exchange Vows with Officiant and Kiss“ interaction after performing “Gather at the Aisle“ interaction.
• You can now sell wedding cakes to local bakers! “Sell to Local Bakery“ action is available now on wedding cakes.
• “Take your seats” interaction will no longer show up 3 times.
• No lines will appear on Sim’s neck after applying the nail asset ‘yfAcc_ManiGP11Patterned_blue’.

TS4 Werewolves Changes

• Skin details (like acne or freckles) will no longer appear on Werewolves' in their wolf form.

TS4 Laundry Day Changes

•  Sim only has to wash only once (not twice) for clothes to be clean or pristine.

TS4 Tiny Living Changes

• Butlers can now sleep on Murphy beds (at their own risk).

TS4 Nifty Knitting Changes

• Legendary Knitting will now count for Excellent Knits Aspiration.

TS4 Paranormal Changes

• More spawners like the specters, weird dolls, occult markings, etc now trigger during Paranormal Investigation for Occult Sims.
• Paranormal Investigation Gigs no longer showing blank Goal Bar. Specters beware. We’re back on the case.

TS4 Crystal Creations Changes

• New item highlights on the Accessories tab properly disappear after checking out the new item(s).

TS4 Portal Essentials Changes

• Fun and Dancing Skill tooltips now appear for ‘The Minimalist's Dance Floor’.

Updates to Build/Buy

New Items

• Prairie-Style Entry Frames
• Pointless Renovation Doors
• Trabeated Entry Frames
• Delight
• VAULT 2 Pro-Er-Level Bar
• The Sloop Jr.
• Iconless Fiberglass Door
• Kickless Fiberglass Door

New Ground Covers

• 21 Rock
• A Fine Geometry Ground Pavers
• Bright Moss
• Grassy Pavers
• Gravel Pavers
• Murky Moss
• Pebbles Please
• Rich Moss
• Rock Storm
• Weeds are Flowers Too

New Variants

• Mega Chimneys
• Low Stucco Roof Parapet
• Feathered Friends Turret
• Shaped Mission Roof Parapet with Quatrefoil
• Curved Iron Balcony
• Mega Wall Hunk
• Mission-Style Slatted Wooden Balcony
• Made in the Shade Tile Awning
• Boxy Iron Balcony
• Annesley Square Column
• FitzHerbert Column
• Grosvenor Column
• Mega Columns
• Woodn’t You Like to Know
• Spandrel with Decorative End Caps
• High-tide Exterior Trim
• Jutting Exterior Trim
• Mega Windows
• The Craftsman
• Old Meets View
• Arch You Happy to See Me?
• Cha Cha Mostly Tall Sliding Door
• Mega Doors
• Island Mahogany Sliding Doors
• Mega Stairs
• Handsome Knuckled Banister
• Mega Railing
• Mission-Style Turned Wood Banister
• Shoe Rail with Square Newels
• Slatted Railing with Chunky Newels
• Slatted Railing with Square Newels
• Elegant Shoe Rail with Rounded Newels
• A Simple Fence
• Archetypal Picket Fence
• Fancy Fencing
• Fancy Picket Fence
• Mega Fence
• Mission-Style Wooden Slat Fence
• Narrow Slatted Fence
• Rustic Stone Wall
• Short Picket Fence
• Simple Picket Fence
• Spanish Revival Wall
• Smooth Keeper
• Cottage Gate
• Garden Gate
• Maiden’s Gate
• Mega Gate
• Modern Vista Gate
• Narrow Vista Gate
• Spanish Inquisition
• Modern Wonder
• Dorm Life Panel
• Droopy Drapes
• H.S. Trionic Draperies
• Nouveau Riche Blinds
• Indecision Swags
• Indecision Valances
• Royal Wedding Swag
• Indulgence
• The Long Island
• The Money Maker
• The Sloop
• Breath of Fresh Air Stove Hood
• Caress Stove Hood
• Close Quarters Range Hood
• Copperrrr and Otherrr Metal Stove Hall Ceiling
• Copperrrr and Otherrr Metal Stove Hall Wall
• Discretion Stove Hood
• Double Whoosh! Ceiling Stove Hood
• Dramatic Heights Stove Hood
• EuroBreeze Range Hood
• Postilion Ceiling-Mounted Range Hood
• Pro Performance Range Hood
• Steely Fan Range Hood
• Super Sucker Range Hood
• Tempest Range Hood
• The Noblesse
• The Obelisk
• Wall-Mounted Modern Stove Hood
• Whoosh! Ceiling Stove Hood
• Fate Postmodern
• Antique Tomes
• Scholarly Stack
• School Binders and Bookend
• The Note Book
• Simplicit-Ease Chair
• The Hipster Hugger
• Whipped Cream Cupcake Factory

And there you have it - those were the full patch notes from the most recent The Sims 4 update. Tune in for more info soon!