The Sims 4is a game that’s constantly getting updated content, whether it’s in the form of paid DLC or patches to fix existing issues. Alongside patch updates often comes new or reworked items, including things like new hairstyles. The primary goal of patches is to update and fix certain bugs players may be experiencing, like when Sims use the bathroom sink to wash dishes and bypass the kitchen sink in the process. Other times, the developer’s updates come as a surprise to players, especially when they don’t address commonly reported problems.
One of the most recentThe Sims 4patches updated a bunch of traits with behaviors that more accurately depict the trait. However, the patch notes at the time didn’t detail what changes were made to the traits and instead listed which traits were affected. Recently,The Sims 4released an in-depth list of the traits that changed and what behaviors were added or taken away. While many of these changes were welcomed by the community, there was one trait change that sparked heavy criticism.
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The ‘Hates Children’ Trait Update
The trait updates added toThe Sims 4helped ensure that Sims would autonomously participate inactions that align with their traits. Sims with the ‘Hates Children’ trait will now get Tense around children before getting Angry and moving away from them, or even get a positive buff called ‘Quiet Environment Child-free Zone’ when not around children. These actions align with what players would assume the ‘Hates Children’ trait would entail, but these weren’t the object of the outrage. A different note in the post stated that Sims with the ‘Hates Children’ trait have no chance of a successful “Try for Baby'' action unless the Sim is in a Dazed mood.
The Controversy and Pushback
The issue, whichmanyThe Sims 4players quickly pointedout, was the precarious wording and overall meaning of the behavior. It called consent into question, as in real life anyone who is under the influence of any substance is unable to consent to sexual activities. Sims in a Dazed mood are out of it and the mood is caused by doing things like consuming medicine when not sick or getting abducted by aliens.
It’s clear that “Dazed” could be a stand-in for “Drunk,” especially because Dazed Sims have a slow walk and become slower at completing tasks, even forgetting the task at times. Essentially,The Sims 4players wereupset that a ‘Hates Children’ Simneeded to be incapacitated or unable to consent before being able to have a successful “Try for Baby.”
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The Response
Even thoughThe Sims 4is a game it doesn’t mean the rules of consent don’t apply. While the developer probably didn’t mean any harm with the updated trait aspect, it didn’t go over well with a lot of the community and the backlash started pretty immediately. Language is important and it seems the developer missed the mark by adding in something so nefariously worded. The good news about this blunder, however, ishow quicklyThe SimsTwitter accountaddressed the issue.
The language in the updated trait notes has already been changed to take away any implications of dubious consent. Instead, it states that Sims with the ‘Hates Children’ trait will be very unreceptive to any “Try For Baby'' actions. The developer has also promised that the Dazed requirement will be removed in the nextThe Sims 4patch. Some players think waiting until the next patch is too long, but it’s quite possible that the patch will come sooner than expected.
Consent is an incredibly important issue and remains relevant even in life simulation games.The Sims 4didn’t mean anything negativeby that portion of the ‘Hates Children’ trait update, but the wording caused some understandable waves and backlash. Luckily the developer addressed it quickly, but this may serve as a reminder that language matters and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
The Sims 4is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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