The Sims 4 is a social simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released on September 2, 2014 for Windows, and is the fourth main installment in The Sims series, following The Sims 3 (2009). As with previous games in the series, The Sims 4 allows players to create and customize characters called "Sims", build and furnish their homes, and simulate their daily life across various in-game regions. This installment introduced a newly developed custom game engine, with enhanced character creation and house-building tools, along with a more complex in-game simulation. Development plans for The Sims 4 initially included a stronger focus on online functionalities, but these plans were dropped following the negative launch reception of Maxis' online-only SimCity in 2013. In the months leading up to the game's release, Maxis revealed that several features from previous Sims titles, such as swimming pools and toddler Sims, would be omitted, citing development time constraints and technical challenges; this decision led to backlash from players. Upon release, The Sims 4 received mixed reviews, with critics praising the game's visual design, improved artificial intelligence for Sims, and streamlined building tools, but criticizing the absence of content compared found in prior Sims titles, frequent loading screens, and glitches. The Sims 4 topped the Ukie all-format video game chart in 2014, and as of 2024, has received over 85 million players worldwide. A macOS version was released in February 2015, followed by PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions in November 2017. In 2022, the game shifted to a free-to-play model, supported by paid downloadable content (DLC) packs that have been released regularly since launch. These DLC packs include eighteen expansion packs and twelve game packs, adding new features, objects, and worlds; the most recent expansion pack, Businesses & Hobbies, was released on March 6, 2025. Free content updates have also been released, re-introducing swimming pools and toddler Sims, as well as adding more character customization options, building tools, diverse gender identities, sexual orientations, and gameplay scenarios. As of 2025, a new multiplayer-focused The Sims title, under the working title "Project Rene", is in development. The Sims 4 is a social simulation game, and like preceding titles in The Sims series, the game is open-ended, with no primary objectives to achieve or storyline to complete, focusing instead on gameplay through creativity and experimentation.[3][4] Players manage the lives of virtual people called "Sims", directing their actions, attending to their "needs", and helping them reach personal goals and desires.[5][4] Players can also engage in goal-oriented gameplay in if desired — each Sim has a lifelong aspiration, and dynamically generated "wants and fears" goals based on current gameplay.[6][4] Simoleons (§) are the unit of currency in the game, and Sims communicate in a fictional language called Simlish.[7] Sims have six "needs"—hunger, bladder, hygiene, social, fun, and energy—that deplete throughout the in-game day, and are replenished through various household items and furniture, for example, taking a shower if hygiene is low or cooking some food if hunger is low.[4][8] Sims primarily make money by acquiring a job, and improve their job performance by developing "skills"; for example, a Sim in the Culinary career needs to develop their Cooking and Mixology skills.[9] A variety of cheats are available, such as those for unlimited money or unlocking hidden gameplay options.[10][11] Optional paid downloadable content (DLC) packs add new gameplay features, objects, worlds, and clothing to the game.[12] Additionally, the macOS and Windows versions of The Sims 4 support extensive modding; fan-designed cosmetic items such as hairstyles, makeup, clothing, and furniture, known as custom content, can be installed for use in the game. Create-a-Sim is the main interface for creating and designing an individual Sim or household in The Sims 4. Facial and bodily features are adjusted by directly selecting and manipulating the respective area.[17][18] Sims exist in eight life stages: newborn, infant, toddler, child, teen, young adult, adult, and elder.[19] Toddlers were added in a 2017 game update,[20] while a 2023 update replaced the baby life stage with newborn and infant.[21][22] Each Sim has three personality traits and an aspiration, which comes with a unique trait.[23][24] Traits shape the personality and behavior of a Sim, while aspirations are lifelong goals with tasks that, once completed, rewards the Sim with a beneficial trait that boosts actions related to the aspiration.[24] A "Play with Genetics" option allows players to can create relatives with inherited features like facial structure, skin tones, hair colors, and eye colors.[25] A 2021 update introduced "likes and dislikes", which reflect the Sim's preferred aesthetics and activities, and are assigned in Create-a-Sim or developed during gameplay.[26][27] Expansion packs and game packs introduce occult Sims, such as aliens, vampires,[28] mermaids,[29] spellcasters,[30] and werewolves.[31] Cat and dog pets are introduced via the Cats & Dogs expansion pack, and can be created in Create-a-Sim or adopted during gameplay.[32] A 2016 update expanded gender options, allowing for more inclusive clothing and hairstyle options, as well as pregnancy, regardless of gender.[33][34] In response to player demand, a 2020 update introduced an expanded range of skin tones, as well as additional makeup customization.[35][36][37][38][39] Preferred pronoun options for Sims were introduced in a 2022 update, developed with the It Gets Better Project and GLAAD; players can assign or create custom pronouns for Sims.[40][41] Another 2022 update added sexual orientation for Sims, allowing for different romantic and sexual attractions, as well as sexual fluidity. Build mode is the main interface for constructing and furnishing houses and lots in The Sims 4. Players can construct buildings and design interior layouts, save their custom buildings or lots into the in-game library, or place down pre-made rooms and buildings.[23][44] Rooms are constructed by drawing walls or placing shaped templates, and can be redrawn or resized later.[45] New in The Sims 4, is the ability to move and duplicate rooms and buildings.[46][47] Bodies of water, such as fountains, swimming pools,[48] and ponds, can be constructed.[49] Interior construction options include doors, archways, half-walls, stairs, and wall and floor coverings.[50] Players can customize buildings extensively, with options for multiple floors, various wall heights, adjustable foundations, and free placement of doors and windows.[51][52] To furnish a home, players purchase furniture and appliances in Build mode, such as televisions, chairs, showers, beds, and fridges. Each item has a specific function, ranging from fulfilling a Sim's need, building a skill, or simply adding decoration.[53] Some items are locked and become available as Sims progress in their careers or through cheat codes. A world is a collection of several neighborhoods, and each world contains a fixed number of lots available for players to customize or build from scratch.[56][57] Lots can be zoned as residential or community spaces. Sims can visit lots in any world, regardless of which world they reside in, and Sims from other households appear as non-player characters roaming within worlds.[56] Unlike its predecessor The Sims 3 (2009),[58] The Sims 4 does not have open worlds; instead, traveling between lots triggers a loading screen, although neighborhoods incorporate limited open world functionality through gameplay objects.[59] The Sims 4 includes three worlds in the base game: Willow Creek and Oasis Springs contain pre-constructed houses, community lots, and families; Newcrest, a sandbox world added in a 2015 update, only contains blank lots free for players to build on.[56][60] Expansion packs and "game packs" add new worlds to the game, with the added world usually being a core feature of the pack. These worlds borrow inspirations from real-life locations; for example, Island Living introduces a tropical world named Sulani, Jungle Adventure introduces a Latin American–inspired vacation world named Selvadorada, Snowy Escape introduces a mountainous Japan-inspired world named Mt. Komorebi, and Cottage Living includes a rural England-inspired world named Henford-on-Bagley. The Gallery is an in-game online content exchange that allows players to upload and share Sims, Sim households, rooms, and buildings.[62] Emotion is a new gameplay mechanic, building on the mood systems in previous titles. Emotions can affect and be affected by in-game actions, events, and social interactions.[63][64][65] There are several types and intensities of emotions, such as happy, sad, and angry.[47][63] A multitasking system allows Sims to perform multiple actions simultaneously, such as having a conversation while cooking. Maxis began development of The Sims 4 with a strong focus on implementing online gameplay features, as part of publisher Electronic Arts' (EA) commitment to releasing titles with online capabilities.[68][69] EA labels president Frank Gibeau stated in 2012, "I have not green-lit one game to be developed as a single player experience. Today, all of our games include online applications and digital services that make them live 24/7/365."[69] These plans were altered following the negative launch reception of Maxis' SimCity in March 2013, which was plagued with widespread technical and gameplay problems relating to the game's mandatory network connectivity.[70][71][72] Maxis confirmed in 2013 that The Sims 4 would be a single-player and offline experience.[73][74] Development of The Sims 4 was also affected by layoffs at EA Salt Lake in January 2014, which was assisting in development of the game. The failure of SimCity led to the eventual closure of its developer, Maxis Emeryville, in 2015.[75][76][77] Remaining EA Salt Lake and Maxis Emeryville employees working on the game were transferred to Maxis' Redwood Shores, California studio.[78][79] The Sims 4 uses a newly developed proprietary game engine, marketed as "SmartSim".[80] In conjunction with this engine, Maxis focused on developing the new Sim emotion system for The Sims 4, as well as more expressive and complex Sim animations, and described Sim behavior in previous The Sims titles as "robotic" in comparison.[64] Development of walking animations and facial expressions centered around better illustrating the emotions of Sims in gameplay, as well as making social interactions between Sims appear more natural and lifelike. British neoclassical composer Ilan Eshkeri composed the game's orchestral soundtrack.[64] This included over 140 brief sound effects to accompany various "key emotional moments" for Sims, such as encountering a fight, a first kiss, a wedding, or a toilet breaking. The Sims 4's soundtrack was designed to emphasize the impact of Sim emotions during these gameplay events.[64] Eshkeri cited difficulty in composing music for the game due to its sandbox nature, contrasting it to his previous works with film scores. All music was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in London, and performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.