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New Sims 4 Update Adds Totally Messed Up Feature

Sims 4 update feature image

The Sims is known for some of its more ‘out there’ features. From the infamous WooHoo to the ability to remove ladders from swimming pools and drown your sims. However, a new Sims 4 update has gone badly wrong and accidentally added in a seriously disturbing feature.

Long-time fans of The Sims will remember the Wants and Fears mechanic that was introduced in The Sims 2. They governed your sim’s desires and actions.

Originally, The Sims 4 had Whims. Now, the new update has reverted back to the classic Wants and Fears system. And that’s where the problems have started.

So, what has the new update added to The Sims 4 and what has gone so terribly wrong?

The Sims 4 Update Features

The free new update arrived on July 26th 2022 and added in a bunch of new features for fans to play with.

The Sims 4 update features
New features added in the most recent The Sims 4 update.

Perhaps the most publicised was the new ability to choose your sim’s sexual orientation. However, it also introduced curved walls, body hair, phone updates, and a number of bug fixes and quality of life improvements.

Most important, though, was the aforementioned reintroduction of Wants and Fears. And a bug with that new system has had sickening results.

The Sims 4 Update Has An Incest Bug

For those who don’t know, Wants include things like career aspirations or who a sim wants to date. Previously, sims would only express interest in dating others without a familial tie.

However, since the new update, players have been noticing that their sims want to date their own family.

That’s right – The Sims 4 now accidentally includes an incest feature. And I think I’m going to be sick.

The Sims 4 update bug in action

Reddit user u/ProfoundEnd was one of the first players to notice the new incestuous bug. They posted the screenshot above with the caption “Why is my Sim getting a whim to ask her own son to be her boyfriend?”

On the EA support forums, another player reported that their sim wanted to start a relationship with his twin sister.

The incest bug isn’t the only problem with the new update, either.

Players are also noticing their sims have started to age rapidly. Admittedly, this is great for remaking Solid Snake in The Sims 4 but probably nothing else. That said, I’d be hesitant to put Snake and Liquid together in the same house after the new update… If you catch my drift.

A Fix is Coming

Thankfully, EA are now aware of the issue and are working to fix it ASAP.

@SimGuruNick (a Quality Designer on The Sims 4) wrote the following on Twitter:

I just wanted to acknowledge that the Want to date a family member is something we know about, we’ve reproduced ourselves, we’re working on it. We’re looking to get it fixed ASAP, thanks for all the bug reports, we appreciate it. We’re of course working on the aging bug too.

Screenshot of Tweet from developer about the new Sims 4 update

An EA Community Manager also jumped onto the thread about the sim wanting to date his twin sister and said that the issue is “under investigation by the Sims Team”.

Have you encountered the bug in the new Sims 4 update? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…

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Sam Harby

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Sam is one of the editors and founders of Downtime Bros and an accredited critic. As a lifelong fan of video games, his favourites are Metal Gear Solid and The Last of Us. With years of knowledge and critical analysis under his belt, he has written hundreds of articles - including news, guides, and reviews - covering video games, movies, TV, and pop culture. Follow him on Twitter and check out his reviews on OpenCritic.

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