The Sims 4
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Sims 4 across the outlets.
'Chibi tumba loonuck' may sound like gibberish, but The Sims have their own language. Can you translate the simlish phrases in our latest Sims series quiz?This article presents a quiz focused on translating Simlish, the fictional language used in The Sims video game series. It highlights how players can learn and recognize specific Simlish phrases and their meanings within The Sims 4 and other titles in the franchise.
New Sims 4 update cuts back on excessive notifications—you can finally silence your phone, and the grim reaper…A recent update for The Sims 4 introduces significant changes to the game's notification system, allowing players to silence excessive in-game alerts and calls. The patch includes new menu options to toggle various notifications, such as those for festivals and phone calls, and addresses specific nonsensical scenarios. Additionally, the update features over 70 bug fixes, improving aspects like sim relationships, clipping issues with doors and windows, and the gallery UI.
What is the Game Developer Podcast? | GameDeveloper.comThe GameDeveloper.com podcast features interviews with prominent figures in the video game industry, discussing game development, design challenges, and labor relations. Hosted by Bryant Francis, the bi-weekly show includes past conversations with developers like Liz England, Sarah Elmaleh, and Charles Cecil, covering topics from game preservation to marketing.
1 month after launch, my favorite indie Sims 4 competitor has sold 1 million copies – and only 170 "naked…Paralives, an indie life simulation game, has sold over one million copies one month after its launch. The developer, Paralives Studio, shared that the game has an average of 80,000 daily players and has received significant player feedback and mod submissions. The studio also highlighted amusing statistics, including a bug that caused a nude character named Charlie to appear in player households.
"Sorry," but The Sims 4's famous NSFW mod WickedWhims is "not happening" for indie competitor…The developers of the upcoming life simulation game Paralives have stated that the popular NSFW mod WickedWhims from The Sims 4 will not be ported to their game. While Paralives aims to be mod-friendly, the WickedWhims team cited technical challenges and potential issues with asset transfer and mod file security as reasons for not developing a version for Paralives.
Full list of The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature cheats for editing Fairy Sims or mastering their Apothecary skillsThis guide provides a comprehensive list of cheats for The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature expansion, covering career progression, skill levels, traits, and even specific fairy-related deaths. While some features lack direct cheat codes, players can utilize console commands to edit fairy Sims, unlock new abilities, and bypass traditional gameplay progression.- Former Sims Devs’ Creepy-Cute Idle Farming Game Invades Desktops July 16thIndie studio Dead Possum Games and publisher Level Up Gaming announced that their creepy-cute idle farming game, Petunia's Purgatory, will be released on PC via Steam on July 16th. The game features horrifying crops, critter sacrifices, and sanity management, with mind-bending effects that invade the desktop when Petunia's sanity slips.
EA announces advertising platform to launch ads 'directly into gameplay'Electronic Arts has launched EA Advertising, a new platform designed to integrate advertisements directly into gameplay. The system aims to connect brands with engaged audiences through various ad formats, including in-game signage and custom content, with initial partners like Visa, Lowe's, and Red Bull. While sports titles are a primary focus, other games like The Sims 4 are also being pitched as advertising opportunities.- Dune Awakening invites you over for first birthday tea, Conan Exiles Enhanced keeps enhancingDune: Awakening is celebrating its one-year anniversary on PC with a month-long in-game event featuring free cosmetic rewards and progression boosts. Meanwhile, Funcom has released a June update for Conan Exiles, addressing mod compatibility, NPC spawning, and server performance issues.
Paralives proves it's a true Sims 4 successor as devs desperately try to fix bug where a naked man "can appear in your household if after giving birth, you exit without saving"The indie life simulation game Paralives, currently in Early Access, is experiencing a peculiar bug where a naked male character named Charlie can appear in the player's household. Paralives Studio is aware of the issue and is working on a fix, with a temporary solution involving the in-game Paramaker tool. The game is also noted for its lack of paid DLC plans.- The Sims 4 Developer Maxis Discusses the Game's Latest Big UpdateMaxis developers discuss the latest significant update for The Sims 4 in an interview with IGN. The conversation focuses on the new features and changes implemented in the recent patch.
A Deep Dive Into The Longing For Modern Nostalgia in Gaming – Why Retro-Inspired Works!This article explores the phenomenon of modern nostalgia in gaming, arguing that retro-inspired games offer a unique form of escapism by harkening back to simpler times and human connections. The author discusses how these games, with their often crude graphics and straightforward gameplay, provide a refreshing alternative to the complexity and corporate control of the modern internet and gaming landscape. The piece also touches on community feedback from platforms like Reddit and Facebook, highlighting player preferences for pick-up-and-play experiences and creative innovation often found in indie titles.
The first Paralives update keeps an essential piece of The Sims alive: funny patch notesThe first update for the life simulation game Paralives has been released, addressing numerous bugs and issues. The developers highlighted several humorous fixes in the patch notes, reminiscent of The Sims series. The game has achieved significant sales since its early access launch, with the team thanking players for their patience and feedback.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is 2026's top new release by revenue to date | Newzoo chartsTomodachi Life: Living the Dream topped Newzoo's revenue charts for new releases in 2026 and overall console revenue in April, attributed to Nintendo's install base. New titles like Pragmata and Windrose also saw strong debuts, though displacing established live-service games remains challenging.
Now that we have Paralives, Inzoi, and The Sims 4, life simmers finally have the variety we've been begging forThe life simulation genre is finally experiencing a resurgence with the releases of Paralives and Inzoi, offering much-needed variety alongside the established The Sims 4. Paralives is particularly praised for its robust build mode and furniture customization, while Inzoi appeals to players seeking hyper-realistic dollhouse drama. The author expresses optimism that these three titles, along with potential contenders like Tiny Life, can sustain a healthy genre.
Paralives Early Access Preview - Building on a very strong foundationParalives has launched in Early Access, offering a promising start in the life simulation genre with familiar controls and advanced customization options like a color wheel and detailed body sculpting. While the game currently lacks variety in clothing and hairstyles, and suffers from some technical issues and underdeveloped AI, its developers have a clear roadmap for future updates including seasons, pets, and cars. The game aims to capture the life-sim market with its deep customization and community-focused features.
Paralives charmed me on day one, but the roadmap outlines the real life sim of my dreamsParalives is shaping up to be a promising life simulation game, offering a fresh direction compared to The Sims 4. The article details the game's roadmap, highlighting planned features like weather, seasons, pools, and pets, with the first major update anticipated in Q4 2026. The game is currently in early access on PC, with ongoing development focused on bug fixes and feature improvements.
Paralives' build mode might mean I don't have to mod The Sims anymoreParalives' build mode offers extensive customization options, including curved walls and color wheels, potentially reducing the need for player mods that are common in The Sims. Despite being in Early Access and experiencing some bugs and quirky gameplay, the game's focus on player control and creative freedom has already hooked players.
Paralives has done the one exact thing I was begging life sims forParalives has launched into early access, offering a life simulation experience that incorporates strategic gameplay elements that the author has been requesting. The game features customizable 'storytellers' to adjust difficulty and mechanics, and its core gameplay loop includes strategic conversation choices and personality-driven events that influence player decisions.
9 cool things about Paralives you won't find in The SimsParalives, now in early access, offers several unique features not found in The Sims 4, enhancing the life simulation experience. These include resizable objects, snap-free decorating, a color wheel for customization, height sliders for characters, and more streamlined quality-of-life mechanics like needs-dependent skill progression and simplified vegetarian toggles.