Fans of The Sims 4 are about to get some heart-warming family content. Not only has Electronic Arts revealed an upcoming update that includes an entirely new life stage, but a new expansion pack will accompany the update. The Sims 4 Growing Together promises family-oriented gameplay and expanded social connection and interactivity mechanics. From building tree houses to hosting sleepovers, much of the content is designed around large groups of Sims. Although, the success of Growing Together might hinge less on the content itself and more on the problematic mechanics around group activities in The Sims 4.
While Simmers have been able to grow large families in the game from the release of the original Sims game, there have been consistent issues regarding gameplay involving large groups. While using an open map in The Sims 3 allowed for more accessible travel and group activities, the problems around large groups worsened with The Sims 4. The announcement trailer for Growing Together seemed to emphasize gameplay between entire neighborhoods. Hopefully, The Sims development team has fixed what could be a game-breaking issue for the upcoming pack.
The Sims Franchise Has Had A Long-Standing Issue With Group Gameplay
While The Sims 4 Growing Together might emphasize the issues with playing with multiple Sims, it's not an isolated event. Playing with a large family of Sims has always been an added challenge, as the "action queue" that controls Sim behavior is the same regardless of household size. This requires a gamer playing with a family of eight Sims will have to wrangle every single one. Sims will also consistently only perform necessary actions if directed by the player, making spontaneous group activities virtually unheard of. For example, taking a family vacation in The Sims 3: World Adventures often means guiding each family member through a juice tour or pyramid.
The Sims franchise also has a history of group-related gameplay not working out as planned. From The Sims 2: Nightlife to The Sims 4: Dine Out, it can take multiple hours for Sims to go out for dinner successfully. The process requires getting Sims to sit down, someone taking their order, compelling them to eat their food, and more, all requiring direct intervention from the player. Similar issues occurred with The Sims 4: My Wedding Stories when Sims refuse to sit for a wedding ceremony or don't show up at all. In The Sims 4: High School Years, teenage Sims often won't show up or sit down at desks during class.
The Sims 4 Growing Together Has A Chance To Redeem or Reproach Group Gameplay
The upcoming family-oriented expansion pack has the opportunity to fix many of the issues that arise when playing with large groups of Sims. Fixing the issues around Sim autonomy in groups could make trips to San Sequoia Park possible and delightful. One of the highlighted features of the pack is group walks and other family activities. These gameplay features won't be possible if only certain Sims respond to the interaction while others do not. It's imperative for the fundamental issues with group gameplay to be updated and fixed alongside the major life stage update.
If the gameplay issues are resolved, many Simmers may interact with existing Sims 4 content in new ways. For instance, parties and group gatherings created with The Sims 4: Get Together will be more dynamic, and college dorms in The Sims 4: Discover University will be busy. If the issues are not fixed when The Sims 4 is retired, there's hope that the upcoming Sims 5 base game will overhaul all existing gameplay. This could potentially mean that Simmers could influence crowd control, take on managing families larger than eight Sims, or even experience more nuanced gameplay through new group mechanics.
The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.