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Xemisa2World's avatar
Xemisa2World
Rising Adventurer
1 year ago

Sims 4 PS4 Glitches September 2024: Missing Menus, Cannot Purchase Books, etc.

Product: The Sims 4
Platform:Sony Playstation 4
Which language are you playing the game in? English
How often does the bug occur? Often (50% - 99%)
What is your current game version number? Unknown (Purchased 2021) (Free version downloaded 2024)
What expansions, game packs, and stuff packs do you have installed? Base Game, Deluxe, Holiday Celebration, Grim's Ghoulish Guitar, Outdoor Retreat, Get to Work, Luxury Party, Perfect Patio, Spa Day, Cool Kitchen, Backyard, High School Years, Desert Luxe, Growing Together, For Rent, Lovestruck. (Microwave glitch has also been seen on the free Base Game version, without Deluxe)
Steps: How can we find the bug ourselves? The stacked character graphics glitch showed up immediately upon arrival at the first lot, right after loading screen. The missing menus showed up after one of the following actions: trying to order medicine from the household computer, attempting to Purchase Books for the High School Years library, following two household teens to school, playing Video Games and practicing Writing on high school computer, trying to order a meal from Zoomers. The fire/stove glitch happened after a sim set the stove on fire accidentally, there was nothing unusual about this incident. The microwave glitch occurs even on the free base game at least 50% of the time when Sims use the microwave. Had 3 lot traits enabled: Teen neighborhood, fast internet, and natural light. Also: one lot challenge: mold. (Mold was not present on the lot for the duration of this gameplay, but that was not an error).
What happens when the bug occurs? First noticed this September 2024 on The Sims 4 PS4 console version, no mods or cc, obviously. Cannot order medicine because the menu is completely blank! Cannot purchase books, which really destroys gameplay. The menu was completely missing and blank. When game first turned on, you could purchase books as usual. Also, cannot order from Zoomers. Same thing, menu was not there. Discovered the Zoomers bug first, then medicine, then books. This was one of the glitchiest experiences playing this game on PS4. Very disappointed. This was on the 3rd game system (a PS4) in the family, and that one has packs: High School Years features were the main ones being used. Briefly used Social Bunny. Clicked on Purchase at the High School bookshelf before noticing this glitch back at sim's house. Other packs on this system are: Cool Kitchen (just purchased), Lovestruck, For Rent, Growing Together, and a few more. This system doesn't have Cats and Dogs, Horse Ranch, or Seasons. It has the Base Game Deluxe and all of the recent rewards (they were not used in this play session). In case this is a clue, must mention that when game started, noticed 7 sims at bottom user interface of the 8 sim household, with the 8th sim stacked above the others. Never saw that arrangement before on console, and do not like it. Another glitch that happened on that system was inability to repair burned items from LIVE MODE. There weren't any fires in this play session, so not sure if that glitch still exists or if latest patch(es) fixed it. Another glitch seen before update on free (no packs) version of the game is sims hold plates incorrectly. After using microwave, plate is stuck to one hand. Similar glitch (cups/plates stuck to hand) did occur in Sims 2 and 3, PC and console.
What do you expect to see? I expect to see the faces of all 8 Sims in my household lined up at the bottom of the screen UI in a row, as usual (not having one sim stacked above the others for no apparent reason). I expect to see a full menu available when I click Purchase Books, Order item from computer, or Order from Zoomers delivery. I expect to see an option to spend Simoleons to restore a burnt stove or counter, etc. in LIVE MODE, without having to go into build mode to do this every time there us a fire. I expect to see Sims hold plates from the microwave properly, with a hand under the bowl or plate, not incorrectly like holding a purse or having a cup or bowl stuck to one hand. This glitch used to occur even more frequently on Sims 2 and 3, especially when characters were eating or drinking while Player is saving the game.
Have you installed any customization with the game, e.g. Custom Content or Mods? On console - never used.
Did this issue appear after a specific patch or change you made to your system? Neutral/Not Sure 

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These are screenshots of the empty menus: 

playstation
xbox

7 Replies

  • JonaO703's avatar
    JonaO703
    Hero
    1 year ago

    @Xemisa2World   Hello!  Sorry you're having these troubles. :-(   First, please double check your game is updated to the latest version.  Navigate to the TS4 game in your library, then click the options (three line) button.  In the menu that pops up, select Information.  The latest version is 1.97.

    If you do have the latest version, then I'm wondering if something got corrupted in your game.  Have you tried starting a new save to see if things work properly there? 

  • Xemisa2World's avatar
    Xemisa2World
    Rising Adventurer
    1 year ago

    Hello, thanks! After patch 2.00, my game seems to work and I can buy books again. So far so good. Haven't tried medicine yet or checked to see if Happy at Home Rewards are back. Something about the PS4 system updates, previous Sims 4 updates, patch(es) and/or trying out Streaming mode for the music altered my UI settings slightly and changed the display size though I did not (knowingly, it may have been an accident) change it myself. To fix it, I adjusted the size and got all 8 Sims to line up at the bottom like how I set it before. If anyone has this same issue, it seems resolved. Go to Options and adjust the bar the top of the screen for your television/monitor. I did choose to save over the previous save file that could not buy books, medicine, etc. with the same family saved from the Library, in case that file was corrupted, so I would recommend doing that.

  • JonaO703's avatar
    JonaO703
    Hero
    1 year ago

    @Xemisa2World   Thanks for the update!  Very glad things are working better in your game.  Have fun playing!

  • Xemisa2World's avatar
    Xemisa2World
    Rising Adventurer
    1 year ago
    @JonaO703 Unfortunately, this glitch returned while on Week 3-4 of Reaper's Rewards. There is no longer an option to Order Seeds. I was able to purchase them at first, then an NPC sat down and used the computer. Afterward, I could no longer order Seeds. I am actively troubleshooting this issue right now. Please send any solutions!
  • JonaO703's avatar
    JonaO703
    Hero
    1 year ago

    @Xemisa2World   That sounds really annoying!  It seems like the Reaper event caused a number of problems for people.  Do you happen to remember which NPC it was that interacted with the computer?  I don't know if it would make a difference but I'm curious, especially if it was perhaps a sim with a special role.

    Here are a few things to try if you haven't already.

    - Check for a game update.  There was a small patch on 31 October, so now the current version is 2.02.  For some reason, my PS4 did not auto update for this one and I had to manually check for the update.

    - Travel with your household (I think it's best to send the entire household) to another lot in a different world.  Have them wander around and/or do some things there.  Then have the household travel back home and check to see if one of the sims can order seeds.

    - Click on the computer and lock it for one of your sims and have that sim try to order.  Then unlock it and try ordering again with any sim.

    - Sell that computer and buy a new one.

    - Power cycle your system

     - Shut down the system through the menus. 

     - Wait for the light to stop flashing

     - Unplug the system from the power source

     - Reconnect the power

     - Power up the system

     - Launch the game for testing

    Please come back and update if anything worked or not.

  • Xemisa2World's avatar
    Xemisa2World
    Rising Adventurer
    1 year ago
    @JonaO703 Good news. I discovered a possible workaround, but I have not confirmed whether it works consistently. This is what happened: I went back to Build/Buy Mode once more, deleted the computer and saved house to Library. Then, I bought an upgraded computer, purchased it then deleted it, then bought again in a different color. Next, I went to CAS Mode, stayed there for about 5 minutes, adjusting my Sims, and when I returned, at least one Sim in the household was able to order Seeds. That Sim was already sitting at the computer when Live Mode resumed, so I directed the Sim to buy seeds from the PC. So, *maybe* CAS Mode through a mirror is a workaround that resets the glitch. That was not the case in September with a similar issue that I reported (which was actually a bit worse because I couldn't order books, medicine, or pizza, etc.). I had to delete that save completely, there was no workaround. Hopefully I can save the game now and finish the Rewards Event. Thank you so much for your prompt response!

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