Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
The Sims 4 will be rectifying the lacking number of non-white skin tones in the base game this fall, resulting from constructive criticism from the community.
I want to acknowledge your concerns about the variety of skin tones represented in The Sims 4 & I have some updates from the team to share. pic.twitter.com/Nzeg8VwllS
— Lyndsay Pearson (@SimGuruLyndsay) August 12, 2020
In a video posted to Twitter, executive producer and general manager of The Sims Lyndsay Pearson acknowledged that there are issues with representation in the game. Though this has been the case in earlier entries of the series, the discussion has been reinvigorated by the reception to modder Xmiramira’s Melanin Packs. These skin tones remediate the “dusty” and “ashy” dark skin tones that come with the base game, and players have been cheered by the creative possibilities and representation afforded by her custom content.
my manz looks like he’s returning from a trip to the morgue WTF IS THIS
— Icecreem #BlackLivesMatter (@Icecreem16) August 8, 2020
“We hear you and recognize that we have not done enough to address the variety of skin tones and hair styles that you expect to find in The Sims 4,” said Pearson. “While we have made additions and improvements and fixes in the past, there is much more for us to do. We are making it a priority to release more options this year, as well as to address the visual issues with current skin tones-specifically, to improve the blotchy artifacts and ashy tones. We’ve iterated on these before, but we are doing a deep dive into our full pipeline to trace our assets through every step and compare the before and afters to assess any loss in quality.”
Pearson continued to state that the team is “blown away by the incredible craftsmanship of our mod community,” but that this ingenuity “does not absolve us from continuing to grow and improve as well.” As part of this, the game will see higher-quality iterations of existing skin tones and an increase in the number of skin tones available in The Sims 4 later this year.
“We realize there isn’t one single fix for representation. We are dedicating people to ongoing commitments to continue improvement over the long term,” concluded Pearson. “Thank you for caring so much about each other and caring about your experiences in The Sims 4 and thank you for being part of our continued evolution.”
The Sims 4 is out now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
