On February 3, EA released a new update (1.121.342.1030/1230) for The Sims 4 called “Do It for the Plot.” This update improves several features, including the family tree. The game now shows extended family members and adds relationship labels for in-laws, half-siblings, and great-grandparents. In addition, EA updated the Python game code to improve performance and provide a better overall experience.
Here is What’s New in The Sims 4
Bug Fixes
The latest Sims 4 update quietly cleans up several long-standing bugs that have been frustrating players since earlier patches.
One of the most noticeable fixes addresses the strange photo corruption issue introduced after the January 13 base game update. Players reported that in-game photos were turning completely black, essentially ruining memories and storytelling moments. That problem has now been resolved, so screenshots and family albums should appear normally again.
Build Mode stability also received attention. Some players running Scenarios with active goals ran into a serious glitch where switching in and out of Build Mode caused the entire user interface to vanish or the game to freeze. That disruption made it nearly impossible to continue progress. The update removes those extra instances, making goal-based gameplay far more reliable.
Book collectors and retail store builders will appreciate another polish pass. Several skill books, including Baking, Wellness, Snowboarding, Rock Climbing, Herbalism, and Photography, previously displayed the wrong covers when placed on retail shelves. This visual mix-up has been corrected. In addition, Fabrication and Mixology skill books finally have distinct covers, making bookstore builds and display setups look more realistic and organized.
On the relationship side, the patch fixes an immersion-breaking family tree bug. Great-grandparents were incorrectly able to trigger romantic interactions with extended relatives. That uncomfortable oversight has been cleaned up, restoring proper family boundaries and social logic.
Prom events also work more smoothly now. Some teens could complete every task except “Dance With Someone,” which failed to register and blocked players from earning a Gold rating. The goal now tracks correctly, so Prom nights can finally end on a high note instead of a glitch.
Finally, Off the Grid players get a practical improvement. Upgraded vacuum cleaners now function properly on Off the Grid lots, which makes keeping eco-focused homes clean much less of a headache.
Overall, this update leans heavily into quality of life improvements. While none of these changes add new content, they remove several immersion-breaking and progress-blocking issues that players have been dealing with for months.
Build Mode
Build Mode gets a couple of quiet but important improvements that make home design feel smoother and less frustrating.
One bug was blocking players from assigning room types correctly. That meant kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms sometimes would not register as their proper room category, which could interfere with lot challenges, aspirations, and overall gameplay logic. This has now been fixed, so room labels should stick the way they are supposed to.
Stair builders will also notice a small but welcome visual correction. The Simple Slattered and MasterCraft staircases previously showed an extra wooden board when placed in an L shape. It was a minor detail, but it made certain builds look awkward or unfinished. L-shaped stairs using those designs now appear clean and properly aligned.
Create a Sim (CAS)
A user interface glitch had been hiding parts of the attraction system. Some players could not see all the options for Turn Ons, Turn Offs, or even the Like and Dislike buttons. With this update, those elements display correctly again, making it easier to define Sims’ personalities and preferences.
Occult fans get a stability boost as well. Editing Mermaids or Aliens in Create a Sim could sometimes crash the game entirely. That issue has been resolved, so customizing supernatural Sims should now be safe and smooth.
There were also a couple of strange cosmetic bugs tied to nail accessories. One manicure asset caused a metallic sheen to spread across the Sim’s entire body, creating an unintended chrome-like effect. That visual glitch has been fixed. Two other nail styles were causing visible line artifacts around the upper arms, which broke immersion in close-up views. Those seams have now been removed, so Sims’ skin looks natural again.
Altogether, these changes focus on polish. They may seem small on paper, but they remove visual distractions, prevent crashes, and make both building and Sim creation feel far more reliable.
Key Features
Family Tree Overhaul
Storytelling across generations just got a serious upgrade. The Family Tree now shows extended relatives and introduces a wide range of new relationship labels, making family connections feel more realistic and easier to follow. You will see clear identifiers for in-laws, step relatives, half-siblings, great grandparents, and many more distant connections that were previously invisible.
Players now have more control over how they present their stories. You can choose whether the Family Tree labels adopt Sims, which gives storytellers more flexibility when framing their households.
The game also expands relationship titles in a big way. It now includes labels ranging from mother-in-law and grandniece to ancestor and descendant. The team has refined existing labels too. The game now identifies divorced partners as ex-spouses and deceased partners as late spouses, which feels more natural and respectful.
The update also tightens family boundaries. Close relatives, including step and in-law relationships, are now blocked from romantic interactions. This prevents awkward autonomous flirting and keeps family dynamics logically consistent.
Flared Staircases
Builders now have more creative control over staircase design. You can flare the top or bottom of a staircase, either evenly or on just one side, to create grand entrances, dramatic foyers, or elegant multi-level homes.
Railings are more flexible, too. They can now be placed on only one side of the stairs, and a new slider lets you adjust the railing length. These small tools make a big difference when you want stairs to match a specific architectural style instead of feeling one-size-fits-all.
Create a Sim Improvements
Finding culturally inspired content is now easier. A new Africana style filter has been added to both Create a Sim and Build Mode, helping players quickly locate African-inspired clothing, hairstyles, and décor.
Hair browsing also gets smarter. New filters for Afro-textured and curly hairstyles help players sort through options more efficiently, especially in larger collections.
On the cosmetic side, Create a Sim adds 12 new jewel-toned and metallic almond-shaped nail designs. These bold, glossy colors expand styling options and work well for both everyday and formal looks.
Lost Legacies Limited Time Event
A new story-driven event sends your Sim on a royal-themed treasure hunt. Triggered by the arrival of a mysterious emissary, the Lost Legacies event focuses on uncovering the histories of three powerful families tied to the Royalty and Legacy theme.
As players progress, they explore old rivalries, romantic secrets, and legendary figures while completing active quests across museums, libraries, nightclubs, and hidden locations. The event runs for a limited time, giving players until March 16 to complete objectives.
Each week unlocks free rewards, including unique collectibles, a cursed ring with gameplay consequences, a new aspiration, a lot trait, and other themed items. Many of these rewards introduce new storytelling angles rather than just decorative objects.
New Themed Kits
Several new Kits expand both fashion and build options.
The Silver Screen Style Kit focuses on vintage, cinema-inspired fashion, perfect for glamorous Sims and dramatic storytelling. The Tea Time Solarium Kit adds elegant, garden party-style Build and Buy items that suit refined gatherings and decorative sunrooms. They launch on February 12, 2026, and the Royalty and Legacy Grand Bundle includes them for a limited time.
Later in the month, more playful creativity arrives. The Wonderland Playroom Kit brings whimsical toys and décor for imaginative children’s spaces, while the Yard Charm Kit by creator Ravasheen adds personality-packed outdoor objects. These two kits will be released on February 26, 2026.
Together, these features mix deeper storytelling systems with more expressive building and styling tools, giving players new ways to shape both family legacies and the spaces their Sims live in.
Important Notice
The developers changed the base game code, which broke some mods. The good news is that mod creators have already released new updates. Basemental mods remain unaffected, while UI Cheats Extension, More CAS Columns, and MC Command Center now have updated versions available. You can download them from their official Patreon pages or websites.
