Fewer Masterpieces and decreasing values.

@BlackDragon4160 I have just run a test with my Sim, who is also 10 in painting skill, etc. The masterpiece she just made is priced at $10,020.

Can I ask if you play with Mods or CC? If so perhaps one has a current issue and causing the issue, even if it didn't in the past. 

If you do have Mods or CC please remove them in this process and try the troubleshooting as described below. (If you don't have Mods or CC, just skip the part about removing the Mods folder, but still delete the cache files mentioned and run the repair.) If you ever had Mods or CC in the past then do the steps as if you have them currently (removing the Mods folder), as there could be damage that has remained after you removed them.

• Exit your game then exit Origin. Please drag the Mods folder from your 'The Sims 4' folder onto your desktop (for future reference) then delete the localthumbnailcache.package file in your 'The Sims 4' folder. Also delete any other folders in the 'Sims 4' folder with word cache in the name. (When you restart the game it will automatically create a new Mods folder.)
• Next please run a game repair [ Open Origin, click 'Game Library' then right-click Sims 4 > Repair Game ]. Make sure to let it run until it has completed all repairs (it will do the base-game first, then run through each of your expansions/packs). After that, please see if the issue has stopped.

If it was Mods/CC: If this fixes the issue I would recommend that you check with the Mod and CC creators to see if there are any known issues with their Mod/CC clashing with the recent update and if so do they have an updated Mod/CC that will address the changes in the game's code from the update. You can then re-add your updated Mods/CC one at a time to see if one was conflicting with the function/causing the glitch - but do not re-add the old config file from the old mods folder, as it is possible for it to have become corrupted also.

Let us know how it goes. Thanks!

SheriGR ☕ –  I don’t work for EA.
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I am playing on a PS4. I have no mods. Not sure what you mean by CC. 

I have deleted the game as well as the User File, Auto-Save file and rebuilt the data base. I have yet to reinstall add-ons one at a time, but did reinstall those I had before the problem came up.

@BlackDragon4160, just popping in to explain what CC means 😇 -- it means Custom Content, which, like Mods are a 3rd party add-on but instead of changing gameplay like a Mod does, CC changes how your game looks, like new furniture or hairstyles, etc.   Mods and CC aren't able to be used on consoles.  The reason why @SheriGR  asked if you used them is because they can cause a lot of problems if they become outdated. 😞

Thank you.

@BlackDragon4160 Thank you for updating us. Since you're on console obviously it isn't Mods or CC (thanks for clarifying about Mods & CC @PugLove888 🙂) since console will not accept either CC or Mods. We would love to know if the issue is still occurring once you have finished all of your reinstall steps.

Since paintings are so lucrative - and known to be one of the 'easier' ways to make good money quickly or on the side - it would not surprise me if EA began to tone that down a bit at some point. I continue to keep this in the back of my mind, but hope, like you, that this will not change. I have fun with this aspect of my game as-is.

I was thinking that perhaps it seemed that my painter used to make a bit more money for the paintings, but I hadn't been really paying close attention or monitoring (and most of the time I spend in the game anymore is building). I've assumed that it was my imagination, my not monitoring closely to know for sure, or the fact that I normally play huge and very busy households, so it's very easy for me to miss small 'aside' facts (things I'm not currently monitoring) or for a sim to not be in 'prime masterpiece production' conditions due to the large household factors. (Plus many of her paintings I just find done - she does them spontaneously - so I have no idea how high her needs were, etc.)

I happen to have been playing a household this month with my painter sim in it, though, and when I specifically made sure that she was high in the green for all needs while painting plus painting in an area that she had a current 'moodlet' boost  (a combo which should result in a masterpiece for her) she did in fact produce a masterpiece, and the price was high (as mentioned in the test I posted).

Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing about if the reinstall fixes the issue for you and your sim's results are what they used to be. Please update us when you know. Thank you!

Thank you so much.  I just uninstalled the game and installed only the add-ons I had originally purchased. I also backed up my files then deleted all game files except the Library. Right now the game is updating. Will be creating a new character. If his painting is successful (Masterpieces worth 7k and up) show up I will be sure to let you know.

It is disturbing that EA may have deliberately caused this. SHAME ON THEM if this is true.

Again, thank you.

@BlackDragon4160 I have no reason to believe EA caused the issue since so far no one else is posting that they have the issue, and since it didn't show up in my test, so hopefully it's just some glitch that will work itself out after your updates/reinstall. I look forward to see what you find happens in the 'new' game. Good luck! 🙌

@RandomBuzziness Yes, I also wouldn't be surprised if they ever did tweak it some, especially with the addition of freelance careers that use the skills, etc. In the lot I mentioned I see she completed another Masterpiece on the easel (also all primed in environment, easel type, etc.) and this one is only worth $2,740. In that case I'm not positive of all of the mood/need conditions, but since it's a masterpiece you would think the pricing would be similar to the other one, as this is supposed to be the highest quality and all!

Thank you. Glad no one else is having this annoying problem.