The Sims 4 Update Removes Gender Restrictions; Latest on Sims 4 PS4 and Xbox version

Jun 03, 2016 06:05 PM EDT

Game developer Maxis released The Sims 4 new update this week. The new update expanded the game's gender customization options, allowing players to dress up characters without any gender restrictions. Now, here's the latest news about Sims 4 update. We'll also give details about the game's PS4 and Xbox One version release date.

 In the game's "create-a-sim" option, players can now choose a variety of accessories and clothes to their virtual characters.  For example, male characters can wear high heels and jewelry, or female characters can use a slick three-piece suit with close-cropped hair.

The Verge said the update had been a year in the making.  The game developer reportedly reworked hundreds of pieces of previously gender-specific content, such as hairstyles, clothing, and walking animation. Game publisher EA said more than 700 pieces of content were reprogrammed.

The changes do not only reflect on the base game, but also on the wide variety of expansions, DLC, and add-ons.

"The core of 'The Sims' has always been empowering players to be creative and express themselves, and this update is a natural extension of that," The Sims 4 lead producer Lyndsay Pearson told in Mashable.

Pearson went on to say that Maxis collaborated with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group GLAAD to develop the update. The group's director for the media program, Nick Adams, said greater gender diversity in The Sims 4 is a good development for the game, as per reports from Hollywood Life.

For the game's NPC characters, they are not affected by the changes, according to Pearson's post on Twitter.

Meanwhile, gamers may have to wait longer for the launching of The Sims 4 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Maxis and The Sims Studios have encountered significant technical glitches while porting the game to consoles. It is also reported that the porting may take some time, and developers may postpone the release of The Sims 4 console version.  

Take note that the game developers are also busy making the new expansion packs of the Sims 4. Gaming analysts say these upcoming expansion packs are important to the game, and game developers might give them more attention. 

Several tech websites claim the popular life simulation game could hit Xbox One and PlayStation 4 early next year.

In the previous Sims 3, its gaming console version was immediately released within a year. However, The Sims 4 console versions are still not available. The latest title in the series was released two years ago.