‘Sims 4’ Broadens Representation With Top Surgery Scars, Hearing Aids
Image via The Sims
The Sims has always been about art imitating life. Now, the franchise is further catching up with the real world by expanding character options to reflect a wider community.
In a massive new update for the PC, Mac, and Xbox, and PlayStation, The Sims 4 has added customization options more representative of trans and non-binary individuals, as well as medical wearables like hearing aids and glucose monitors as a nod to people who have those devices on every day. These inclusive additions, which are purely stylistic, build upon a previous update that enabled players to determine their avatars’ sexual orientation and give them non-heteronormative love interests.
In the ‘Body’ category, players will find a ‘Body Scars’ section, where they’ll be able to apply a “top surgery scar” onto the torsos of teen or older male Sims with masculine or feminine frames. In the real world, these marks are the result of a breast tissue removal surgery, typically done to remove tumors or as a gender-affirming step.
To pair with these changes, The Sims developer Maxis is also giving characters binders and shapewear for players who want a specific silhouette for their avatars or to compress their chests.
A base game update is here with new content including medical wearables, binders, shapewear, a light switch & more including bug fixes & console gameplay improvements 🥳💚
— The Sims (@TheSims) January 31, 2023
Read more about today’s update in the latest patch notes! https://t.co/4c4vZdfWBY pic.twitter.com/GYbQYijIIm
A new ‘Medical Wearables’ category introduces hearing aids for toddler-aged Sims or older. These gadgets arrive in 15 colors, and can be worn on either side or both of the ears. There’s also a glucose monitor that characters can attach to their arms or lower abdomens.
Those who resonate with the additions are rejoicing about finally being able to create characters who represent their experiences. “My little trans heart is so happy,” writes one person.
THE SIMS GOT TOP SURGERY SCARS AND BINDERS https://t.co/6d24dx73ET pic.twitter.com/gR6AeRdSeR
— Kate Gray (@hownottodraw) January 31, 2023
“Thank you so much… for adding glucose monitors to the base game,” one player with type 1 diabetes expresses. “I almost cried seeing something I have to use every day in a game I love.”
Another player proclaims: “Binders, top surgery scars, hearing aids, and glucose monitors? This is the best update since we could have feminine clothing on masculine frames and vice versa.”
The base game of The Sims 4, which includes the new character selections, is now free to play.
I've been looking at my sim self with hearing aids for like an hour. bc never thought one day I could represent myself in The Sims but im glad it's here. 🥹🦻 pic.twitter.com/HDhgSoORbU
— Luddle's in The Family Tree. 🌳 #stayanddraw (@LuddySimmer) January 31, 2023
GUYS YOU CAN GET TOP SURGERY SCARS AND BINDERS IN THE SIMS 4 NOW‼ï¸â€¼ï¸ /SRS pic.twitter.com/n73Bf8deRm
— rhi :D 🌷🎗 (@Rhianoo) January 31, 2023
i actually want to cry about the sims update including blood glucose monitors just like i have🥺🥺 pic.twitter.com/mabWvAhNlX
— kirsty☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ🦋 (@parkingjm) February 1, 2023
[via Kotaku and Polygon, images via various sources]
