This is probably a whole can of worms that no one wants to open, but when I look at TS4, I find it similar to the way World of Warcraft designed their model updates.
This picture compares some of the old WoW models to the new WoW models. Of the face shots, only the upper left is the old model. The hair texture, wide eyed look on the face, and angle of the corners of the lips especially remind me of TS4. Considering that TS4 and the WoD expansion were released in the same season, it just seems to be the popular look for 2014. Market and demographic research probably led both teams in the same direction.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g44/AimeeC77/394445.jpg
Frankly, even the "bark" (or lack thereof) on the trees and smooth, blurry texture of the rocks in this picture remind me of Elwynn Forest circa 2004. If I'm going to play a game with that aesthetic, I will go play one where I can also rock some pixel violence and fly around on a dragon.
"The_SimScraper;14594272" wrote:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cb2VIsKWwAAMu-V.jpg:small
