Celebrate The Sims' 25th anniversary with a huge update and 25-hour livestream

TL;DR: EA is celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Sims franchise with a series of updates for The Sims 4, free in-game content, and a 25-hour livestream featuring popular streamers and special guests. The company also released a new episode of Behind The Sims and issued the first update to The Sims 3 in over a decade.

The upcoming update to The Sims 4 overhauls the main menu to better emphasize the current save file players are working on. It introduces a smaller sidebar and a dedicated Store section, streamlining the previously ad-heavy UI. EA also noted that some navigation options, including the New Game/Resume Game button, have been relocated from the right side to the left.

The update also features redesigned versions of several iconic townie homes in Willow Creek and Oasis Springs, including the Pancake, Goth, Caliente, Landgraab, and BFF households. The new in-game items will be available to all players, including those using the free-to-play version. Players can still access legacy versions of these homes via the Library if desired, but new games will default to the updated versions.

Also see our feature: The Sims: 22 Years and Counting

On January 16, EA will launch three new kits: the Secret Sanctuary Kit, the Casanova Cave Kit, and the Comfy Gamer Kit. The final kit was created in collaboration with popular Sims 4 streamer Kayla Sims, better known as LilSimsie. While EA hasn't shared many details about these kits, they mentioned they will include a mix of Build/Buy and Create-a-Sim items inspired by iconic Sims characters.

Another update is scheduled for February 4, the anniversary of the original The Sims launch in 2000. This "huge update" will introduce over 70 new in-game items for all players. These additions include new Create-a-Sim options, such as two hairstyles and a goatee for adults, along with a new hairdo for babies. There will also be new clothing options, including a turtleneck, bodysuit, jackets, jeans, bike shorts, and more.

In a separate, seemingly unrelated development, EA has released a surprise update for The Sims 3 (2009). The Windows version of the game was last updated in 2015, while the macOS version received its most recent patch in 2020. The new patch doesn't introduce any new features but addresses a critical issue, fixing frequent crashes on PCs equipped with 12th-gen Intel Core processors.