The Sims 4 August 2025 Update Adds Free Customization Options and Pack Selection Tool

The Sims 4 has rolled out its August 2025 free update, giving players both fresh customization options and new tools to make managing expansions easier than ever. The update arrives alongside the recently released Enchanted by Nature DLC, which launched on July 10 as the 19th full expansion pack for the life simulation game.

For players who own the expansion, the patch introduces new ways to control ailment mechanics — a system added with Enchanted by Nature that lets Sims contract magical or natural conditions, sometimes with unexpected side effects. While ailments were originally contagious by default, spreading from one Sim to another in close proximity, the new patch allows players to toggle contagion on or off in the Game Options menu. This offers more freedom for those who want to manage the feature or avoid unexpected disruptions in their households. Players can also now disable the Balanced Lifestyle system, which influences a Sim’s vulnerability to ailments, giving more flexibility for storytelling and gameplay.

More Inclusive Customization in Create-a-Sim

One of the most significant additions is the expansion of customization options in Create-a-Sim. Continuing Maxis’ commitment to inclusivity, the update adds new skin detail sliders and facial features across all players, even those who only have the base game. Teens and older Sims now have access to more realistic features such as rosacea, dark spots, age spots, and under-eye bags. On top of that, body customization has expanded to include stretch marks and new freckle patterns, making Sim creation feel more authentic. For adult Sims, entirely new wrinkle options for both the mouth and body have been introduced, allowing for greater representation of different life stages.

Pack Selection – A Smarter Way to Manage Expansions

Players who own multiple expansions often face cluttered neighborhoods, with content from different DLCs blending together. To address this, the update adds the Pack Selection feature, which appears when starting a new save. This tool allows players to choose exactly which expansions will be active in their new world, effectively tailoring the gameplay to their preferred storylines. For example, players may want fairies from Enchanted by Nature but avoid vampires or wizards from other expansions. With Pack Selection, they can simply disable certain content without uninstalling entire DLCs. However, disabling packs will also remove associated content such as hairstyles, outfits, objects, and unique gameplay features from that save.

Technical and Performance Updates

Alongside the new features, Maxis has rolled out a number of performance optimizations. PC players with Intel GPUs will now default to DirectX 11, bringing smoother visuals, improved responsiveness, and better stability. The patch also addresses a range of graphical issues, including shadow flickering, inconsistent lighting, and water reflection bugs. These changes ensure that both PC and console players enjoy a more stable and polished experience.

Patch 1.117.221.1020 Highlights

• New Skin Details: Wrinkles, freckles, stretch marks, rosacea, dark spots, age spots, and under-eye bags for greater realism in Sim creation.

• Pack Selection Tool: Choose which expansions to include when starting a new save, streamlining performance and storytelling.

• DirectX 11 Improvements: Enhanced rendering and stability for Intel GPU users.

• Performance Fixes: Better responsiveness, crash prevention, and optimized lighting.

• Enchanted by Nature Ailment Options: Ability to toggle contagion and Balanced Lifestyle mechanics on or off.

With the arrival of the Enchanted by Nature expansion and these free additions, The Sims 4 continues to grow as one of the most feature-rich and customizable life simulators ever made. Whether you’re creating new characters with more realistic details, experimenting with DLC combinations, or tailoring gameplay mechanics to your liking, the August 2025 update ensures players have more control than ever over their virtual worlds.