Sims 4 Update Adds Some Free New Features

The Sims 4 has rolled out a new free update for August 2025, introducing some new customization features for the Enchanted by Nature DLC expansion and players who only have the base version of the free-to-play life simulator. Arriving alongside the new immersive features in The Sims 4 is also a handy tool for managing multiple DLCs at once.

Released on July 10, Enchanted by Nature is the 19th full DLC expansion for The Sims 4 since the game’s original launch in September 2014. Appealing to fans of the series who prefer to add a supernatural element to their neighborhoods, it is the first expansion that lets Sims turn into fairies. It also adds an apothecary career track, balanced lifestyle gameplay mechanic, and an upgradable Natural Living skill for those looking for an experience more grounded in reality.

For those who have downloaded the latest DLC, the new free update gives players a lot more control over the spread of ailments introduced in Enchanted by Nature. Contracted through various means, including deliberate infection by fairies, ailments can carry both positive and negative symptoms and side effects. They were originally treated as contagious, and could be contracted by anyone who comes too close to an infected Sim. While that will still be the default setting for ailments, the update adds a menu that allows players to toggle contagion on and off. Additionally, since extreme imbalance can make Sims more susceptible to ailment infection, players now have the option to turn the Balanced Lifestyle system off altogether.

The new update also provides some new customization options that all players should be able to enjoy. In Maxis’ ever-growing effort to make The Sims 4 community an inclusive environment, new options in Create-a-Sim have been added, providing more realistic wrinkles and skin pigmentation physical features. Players creating adult Sims will notice the addition of new wrinkle options for mouths and bodies, while Sims aged teen and up have new facial features selections covering rosacea, dark spots, age spots, and eyebags, along with new stretch marks and freckle options on bodies.

Additionally, the latest update provides a new feature that should be helpful to players looking to start over with a fresh neighborhood in The Sims 4, especially if they have multiple expansions downloaded. When starting a new save, the Pack Selection feature will allow players to select which DLC they would like to include in the game for their current run, allowing them to disable certain content without uninstalling it. For example, a player will be able to choose to have a neighborhood filled with fairies but with no vampires or wizards generated by selecting only the DLC they want to use in that save file, though doing so will also remove any specific content like hair and clothing options tied to a particular 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).

The Sims 4

7/10

Released

September 2, 2014

ESRB

T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence

Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts

Engine

Proprietary Engine