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eileenator's avatar
eileenator
Seasoned Newcomer
4 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

     

18 Replies

  • has anybody tried this? does it work? i don't want to sacrifice my graphics setting to low to solve the problem so hopefully this changing the GraphicRules,sgr file thing could work

  • by the way thank you so much for your reply. so i know this is EA's issue and not mine. it's been driving me crazy trying to figure out what the problem is

  • ohmymino's avatar
    ohmymino
    New Novice
    4 months ago

    Bluebellflora  Ok i tried this and unfortunately it did not work for me. shadows still flicker like before.

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    4 months ago

    ohmymino please could you copy and paste the section in the GraphicsRules.sgr file in a post here? Or, better still, upload the whole file to a file sharing site and DM me the link so I can test your file in my game.

    Which exact model Mac and version of macOS are you using?

  • Unfortunately, the issue remains for me despite editing the GraphicsRules.sgr file. 😞

    Here’s the section of the file:

    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 true
            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 true
            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 true
            prop $ConfigGroup RenderExternalDropShadows false
            prop $ConfigGroup InteriorSunShadows true

    And here are my specs:
    iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020)
    3,8 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i7
    AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT 16 GB
    32 GB 2667 MHz DDR4
    macOS Sonoma 14.7.3

    Thank you for always trying to help out! I appreciate it.

  • when I move the camera around, I use the Sims 4 camera mode, the windows and curtains jump around and shake in and out of the walls. Also, the rocks and plants from the set dressing jump into the house. This happens in both live and build & buy modes. I took out all my mods and this is still happening.

    I have Seasons, Cats & Dogs, Get Famous, Parenthood, Outdoor Retreat, Moschino, Tiny Living, Backyard Stuff, My First Pet Stuff, and Romantic Garden.

  • EA_Cade's avatar
    EA_Cade
    Icon for Community Manager rankCommunity Manager
    4 months ago

    Hello all,

    If any of you are still encountering this on the latest game version (without mods), would you be willing to share your save file(s)? If so, please send me a private message with a link to the file.

    Instructions can be found here

    Thanks!