minimal options for Sims with dark skin tones and its failure to fully represent people of color. This is a particularly notable problem for a game like The Sims, which strives to give players the power to simulate their ideal life.
Sims 4 may be a simulation game centered around everyday life, but that does not mean it always sticks the realities of the world it is simulating. For example, many fans were delighted during Gamescom Opening Night Live to discover that the game would be Baby Yoda from The Mandalorian.
In an EA blog post this week, Sims 4 creators discussed changes they were implementing to address the issues of representation in the game. The update to correct “blotchy artifacts and ashy appearance of darker skin tones” will roll out on October 6th for Mac and PC, with the console update following soon after, on November 10th.
After that, the team promises to bring over 100 new skin tone options to the game - focusing particularly on darker skin tones. The game will give players access to a slider for various modification options, like the makeup section, to give players an even larger array of customization. These modifications are expected to hit in December, along with two enhanced hairstyles from the base game. To assure fans that The Sims is dedicated to expanding its representation, the blog post also announces that the team will be consulting “external partners, including talented and diverse community ” on its content and that there will be more details to announce soon. EA may have been slow to respond to players' concerns about The Sims 4's uneven representation, but it seems that it's now taking its responsibility to correct the problems seriously.
The Sims 4 community is not only diverse, but also incredibly large, according to recent reports which state the game has attracted over 30 million players. EA expressly used the narrative of The Sims being a place for players to be themselves during its EA Play presentation, so it is great to see the developer taking steps to ensure the reality of its game lines up with that messaging. Hopefully, these updates will allow all the game’s millions of players to all feel represented.
The Sims 4 is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Mac.
Source: EA
