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eileenator's avatar
eileenator
Seasoned Newcomer
11 months ago
Solved

[CURRENT ISSUE] Objects, lighting and shadows flickering since 14/01 patch

Yeah i don’t know how to explain so here’s the video. It only happens when i zoom in 

Edit - edited title to better reflect issue (Bluebellflora)

  • - Marked as solution for visibility and workaround -

    I think this issue is related to the specific SSAO setting in the GraphicsRules.sgr file. It is the same as the shadows flickering in this thread - Shadows are flickering | EA Forums - 11006914 

    Firstly check you don't have a GraphicsRules.sgr file in the Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > ConfigOverride folder. If you do trash it and then load your game to check if it now works as it should. If it does great, you've fixed the problem. If you're still encountering the flickering there may be a simple fix for this until we wait for EA to (hopefully) fix it in an update. It does not require any changes to the in-game graphics options:

    1. Quit the game.
    2. Right click on the base game app in your Applications > EA Games folder or wherever you have it installed
    3. In the menu that pops up click on Show Package Contents > Contents > Resources
    4. Right click on the GraphicsRules.sgr file and choose Open With... >  TextEdit to open the file
    5. Once the file is open press CMD and F to bring up the Find window
    6. Type SSAO in the Find window. You should get 4 results back (see code snippet below)
    7. Where it says Ssaoenabled there should be a true or false value afterwards. Change them all to True
    8. Save and quit TextEdit then launch your game and see if the issue persists. If it does, reopen the GraphicsRules.sgr file again and check it saved properly after you edited it. 

    Lower graphics options in-game have the SSAO set as false by default. Changing this to true should hopefully fix it.

    option LightingQuality
        setting $Low
    		prop $ConfigGroup NumberCascadeLevels 1
            prop $ConfigGroup ShadowMapSize 1024
            prop $ConfigGroup RenderShadowsEnabled false
            prop $ConfigGroup ShadowDecalEnabled false
            prop $ConfigGroup LowDetailLightmaps true
            prop $ConfigGroup HighRezTranslucency false
            prop $ConfigGroup SsaoEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup NormalMappingEnabled false
            prop $ConfigGroup VolumetricLightScattering false
            prop $ConfigGroup DofEnabled false
            prop $ConfigGroup RenderExternalDropShadows true
            prop $ConfigGroup InteriorSunShadows false
        setting $Medium
            prop $ConfigGroup NumberCascadeLevels 1
            prop $ConfigGroup ShadowMapSize 1024
            prop $ConfigGroup RenderShadowsEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup ShadowDecalEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup LowDetailLightmaps false
            prop $ConfigGroup HighRezTranslucency false
            prop $ConfigGroup SsaoEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup NormalMappingEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup VolumetricLightScattering true
            prop $ConfigGroup DofEnabled false
            prop $ConfigGroup RenderExternalDropShadows false
            prop $ConfigGroup InteriorSunShadows false
        setting $High
            prop $ConfigGroup NumberCascadeLevels 3
            prop $ConfigGroup ShadowMapSize 1024
            prop $ConfigGroup RenderShadowsEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup ShadowDecalEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup LowDetailLightmaps false
            prop $ConfigGroup HighRezTranslucency true
            prop $ConfigGroup SsaoEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup NormalMappingEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup VolumetricLightScattering true
            prop $ConfigGroup DofEnabled false
            prop $ConfigGroup RenderExternalDropShadows false
            prop $ConfigGroup InteriorSunShadows false
        setting $VeryHigh
            prop $ConfigGroup NumberCascadeLevels 3
            prop $ConfigGroup ShadowMapSize 2048
            prop $ConfigGroup RenderShadowsEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup ShadowDecalEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup LowDetailLightmaps false
            prop $ConfigGroup HighRezTranslucency true
            prop $ConfigGroup SsaoEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup NormalMappingEnabled true
            prop $ConfigGroup VolumetricLightScattering true
            prop $ConfigGroup DofEnabled false
            prop $ConfigGroup RenderExternalDropShadows false
            prop $ConfigGroup InteriorSunShadows true
    end

     

54 Replies

  • eileenator 

    Do you have any files in your ConfigOverride folder? 

    Have you edited the GraphicsRules.sgr file in The Sims 4.app > Contents > Resources?

    Do you have any Mods/CC installed?

  • londonsw's avatar
    londonsw
    11 months ago

    I had the same problem and I think I figured out how to fix it. You'll want to find your GraphicsRules.sgr file. 

    If you're windows: 

    1. Locate your TS4_x64.exe. If you are an EA App user, it is typically at C:/Program Files/EA Games/The Sims 4/Game/Bin. If it is located elsewhere and you absolutely have no idea where it is exactly, simply right-click on the Sims 4 icon on your Desktop and select ‘Open File Location’. It will lead you to its location

    If you're Mac: 

    1. In Finders, press cmd + F and type in “The Sims 4”.
    2. Once you see “The Sims 4.app”, right-click on it and select “Show Package Contents”. The default GraphicsRules file is located at Contents/Resources.

    From there, delete the GrahpicsRules.sgr file and repair your game (log into your EA account and find the Sims 4 game). From there, right click it and select repair game. I hope this helps! 

  • I made a new save after the new update yesterday and when i went to live mode the lighting around the world was flickering. It also seems to happen when I go to build mode through live mode.  It also happens is multiple worlds. But when i go to build mode via the map it does not happen. I play on a Mac Mini if it helps.

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