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Chaantel's avatar
Chaantel
Seasoned Rookie
8 days ago

Console Realism Update: Features We Need Since We Can’t Use Mods

Hi everyone! I wanted to share some thoughts on how to make the game feel significantly more realistic, specifically from a console perspective. I’m going to be honest: a lot of us in the console community feel overlooked. When PC players encounter gameplay gaps or a lack of realism, they can easily download incredible mods like Panda Sama's Realistic Childbirth or financial mods. On Xbox and PlayStation, we are completely locked out of custom content. We rely entirely on official updates, and it's frustrating when basic realism is missing. Beyond the lack of features, playing on console comes with unique technical headaches that really hurt immersion. The UI is often poorly optimized for a TV screen, making text tiny and hard to read from a couch. Navigating menus with a controller can feel sluggish, and game-breaking simulation lag seems to hit consoles particularly hard during large family playthroughs. We really need EA to optimize the console experience alongside adding deeper gameplay. I think EA should officially update the game to include these realistic features and quality-of-life fixes for everyone: Deep Medical & Pregnancy Realism: We need a functioning healthcare system for physical checkups, eye exams, and dental care. For pregnancy, we need interactive hospital visits where Sims get an actual ultrasound scan. This appointment should reveal the baby's gender, tell you exactly how many babies to expect (twins, triplets, etc.), and give you a physical photo to hang on the wall. We also need realistic labor tools like birthing balls and partner support animations. Realistic Finances & Bills: Add options for banks, loans, or mortgages so buying a house feels like a real achievement. Simoleons should be harder to earn, and basic expenses should vary by neighborhood. Immersive Schools & Education: School shouldn't just be a rabbit hole. We need a realistic school system where kids bring home actual homework projects, choose specific school tracks (like arts, trades, or sports), and face real consequences like detention or skipping class. Active Shopping & Restaurants: Grocery shopping should be essential, forcing Sims to visit a local market to cook fresh meals. Running a restaurant or retail shop should feel like a real business, with deep employee management, supply costs, and customizable customer service. More Emotional & Social Depth: Relationships are too easy right now. Sims should have arguments that actually matter, unique personality compatibility, and deeper grief or celebration periods for major life events. Everyday Chores & Maintenance: Bring in daily tasks that feel real. Cars (even just for driveway interactions), lawnmowing, or appliances that require regular maintenance would make managing a house feel grounded. Teen and Elder Updates: Teens need unique high school struggles, peer pressure, and distinct hobbies. Elders deserve a proper retirement system, physical limitations, and unique ways to pass down family wisdom. Fixing the console performance and updating these core mechanics would show console players that our gameplay experience matters just as much as on PC. What do you guys think? What else do you feel is missing to make the game feel real?

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1 Reply

  • simsplayer818's avatar
    simsplayer818
    Hero
    8 days ago

    Chaantel​ some things there are available to us already with add-ons. Do you have High School Years and Parenthood? They added some of the school suggestions you have. School projects are in Parenthood and HSY adds teen school gameplay and a school that can be attended in person, unlike school for child age Sims.

    Life and Death adds to grief gameplay and even adds grief counselling. Relationship compatibility is part of Lovestruck.

    I wanted CC on console for years, but it's a complicated issue between console manufacturers and EA. Technical compatibility and restrictions were stopping that from happening from the console manufacturers side so I'm glad they've added the Marketplace. Now we can add CC through a safe portal. I'm up to about 30 different Marketplace add-ons now and so far I've had no issues on Xbox Series X. 

    I'd love to be able to interact with cars. I add them from debug with bb.showhiddenobjects and bb.showliveeditobjects (safe cheat to use on console as it doesn't require testingcheats true to be entered first so it doesn't affect console achievements and trophies). There are all kinds of car parts and things there that I've used to make a garage but it's just decorative. When the Restoration Workshop kit came out I was disappointed there was no link to cars and car maintenance. But it still looks cool in garages.

    Console performance is an issue for some at the moment but I limit my save files to 4 or less. I'm on 2 saves at the moment as I just cleared 2. I clear my library of everything and leave it blank as that uses additional space and impacts performance. I add my important builds to the Gallery, I know I can download them again safely as I made them. I clear random Townies from Other Households daily. There are a lot being generated at the moment and I'm clearing more every day. They cause a severe console lag. So at the start or end of each session I root them out. If my game lags I know where to look. I also clear all personal and household inventories from households before switching to a different household. Even fridges. All of those items can affect console performance so I only use those inventories for my current household. My game is currently running smoothly on Xbox Series X with all content installed and all my Marketplace content.

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