Jul 1
Watch: Sims 4 Becoming More Like Real Life with Addition of Polyamory
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Gamers (and gaymers) take note: The Sims 4 will offer an expansion pack this month, titled "Lovestruck," that allows for a little more realism in the form of polyamory.
"Arriving on July 25, 'Lovestruck' will mark the 16th expansion pack to be released for the base game, which launched in its vanilla form in 2014," Rolling Stone reported.
Referencing an announcement from the game's publisher, Electronic Arts (EA), the report added: "Per the blog post, it will introduce a new locale dubbed 'Ciudad Enamorada,' which translates to 'City in Love' in English."
"Love lives and courtship appear to be the central focus of the update," Rolling Stone continued, "which also adds a simulation within a simulation as players' Sims can create their own dating profiles on the imaginary in-game app, Cupid's Corner, to match with other Sims."
The writeup went on to add that "eagle-eyed fans were immediately drawn to the update's biggest feature, polyamory – or the ability to engage in multiple romantic relationships with consent of every Sim involved – buried within the granular list of new mechanics."
EA's blog post put it this way, Rolling Stone relayed: "You can now define how your Sims approach romantic relationships in terms of physical and emotional romantic exclusivity. This allows for Sims to date multiple Sims without impact to other relationships."
Source: EA
Even non-poly relationships within the game will get an upgrade, judging from EA's blog post, which was illustrated with an inclusive graphic showing a gay couple, and which featured more tea about the upcoming release.
"Ciudad Enamorada has three neighborhoods that exude charm with plenty of places for Sims to meet, flirt, and even WooHoo," the blog detailed. "There's even a new Singles Hangout lot trait that'll attract available Sims to come and mingle."
"What works for your Sim?" another paragraph, illustrated with an image of two women engaged in intense conversation at a coffee shop, asked. "Turn-Ons and Turn-Offs will determine how attracted Sims are to each other."
Noted the blog, "For Sims with romantic aspirations, romance is a way of life. Truly hopeless romantics can even become Romance Consultants and make a career out of loving love!"
Watch the expansion pack's trailer below.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
