The Great Unification : A Proposal for Cross Pack Cohesion in The Sims 4
TLDR: The Sims 4 needs a Great Unification base game update to stop packs from feeling like separate silos. This proposal covers cross-pack business licenses, standardized build swatches, making Kits functional with expansions, and creating a unified world/skill engine.
The Great Unification Base Game Update
The Sims 4 has over a decade of incredible DLC, but as the collection grows, the gaps between packs are becoming harder to ignore. We do not just need more content; we need our existing content to talk to each other.
I am proposing a Base Game Mega Update focused entirely on Cross Pack Cohesion. Here is how we bridge the silos:
UNIVERSAL BUSINESS LICENSE
Currently, retail, restaurants, and home hustles exist in separate bubbles.
The Fix: A base game UI overhaul that allows for Hybrid Lots.
The Dream: Run a Bakery (Get to Work) with a functional Espresso Bar (Get Together) inside an Apartment Building (For Rent). Let us sell Crystal Creations and Home Chef pizzas at City Living kiosks or High School Years thrift tea shops without restrictions.
BUILD AND BUY MODE CONSISTENCY
Nothing ruins a build like clashing swatches and non-functional objects.
The Fix: Implement a Standardized Swatch Palette for all wood, stone, and metal textures across all packs.
The Dream: Ensure that Warm Oak in Cottage Living matches Warm Oak in Horse Ranch. Additionally, all windows should have standardized snapping points so curtains from Base Game or Dream Home Decorator fit windows from Eco Lifestyle or Jungle Adventure perfectly.
MAKING KITS FUNCTIONAL ADD-ONS
Kits often feel like isolated decor, but they should enhance the packs we already own.
The Fix: Retroactive Gameplay Tags for Kit objects.
The Dream: Vacuuming from Bust the Dust should reduce allergy symptoms if you have Seasons. Books from the Book Nook Kit should be buyable or sellable in Get to Work bookstores. Plants from Blooming Rooms should be waterable and contribute to the Garden Skill.
SHARED SKILL AND SOCIAL LOGIC
Skills from one pack should be recognized by the systems of another.
The Fix: Map all overlapping animations to a Core Skill system.
The Dream: Winning a dance-off in High School Years should increase your Get Together Dance Skill. A world-class Nectar Maker (Horse Ranch) should earn Fame (Get Famous) as a Master Artisan.
WORLD AND ENVIRONMENT INTEGRATION
Older worlds often feel static compared to newer ones.
The Fix: Retroactive updates for all maps to support modern features.
The Dream: Open up the water in Willow Creek and San Myshuno for swimming (Island Living). Allow all world-specific vacation maps to be toggled as residential via the For Rent system.
THE ANIMAL AND NATURE ECOSYSTEM
Nature should not be segmented by which pack the animal came from.
The Fix: A unified Caregiver and Nature tag system.
The Dream: Veterinarians should be able to treat Cows, Llamas, and Horses. Ranch Hands should be able to help with Cats and Dogs. Eco Lifestyle's green footprint should directly improve the quality of Cottage Living crops.
Why this matters:
The Sims 4 is at its best when it feels like a cohesive world. By updating the Base Game to tag and recognize DLC content universally, we breathe new life into every pack we have already bought. It turns a collection of separate games into one massive, interconnected universe.
Community Discussion:
Which Kit do you think would benefit most from a gameplay tag?
If you could fix ONE wood tone to make it universal, which one is it?
Which two packs do you feel clash the most right now in Build Mode?
