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eileenator's avatar
eileenator
Seasoned Newcomer
1 year 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

     

59 Replies

  • M_Marika_M's avatar
    M_Marika_M
    Rising Newcomer
    1 year ago

    Experiencing the same issue

    model: MacBook Air 2019, Retina

    macOS version: macOS Sonoma 14.7.1

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    1 year ago

    yinininyu 

    Same questions apply to you. Please provide your Mac model and macOS version and post a screenshot of your in-game graphics settings.

  • yinininyu's avatar
    yinininyu
    Seasoned Newcomer
    1 year ago

    I'm experiencing the same problem since the game was updated on 14th January.  Even if I open a new game and close the mod setting, I still have this problem with the houses I downloaded from the Gallery.  

    After my in-game graphics set to medium quality, and the edge smoothing sets to medium, this problem is solved.  

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    1 year ago

    You do have a GraphicsRules.sgr file, it's in the base game app which you can open by right clicking on the base game in Finder and selecting Show Package Contents. But if you've never edited it no need to change anything.

    Which exact model Mac do you have and version of macOS?

    What are you in-game graphics settings? Could you take a screenshot and post it here?

  • eileenator's avatar
    eileenator
    Seasoned Newcomer
    1 year ago

    I don’t have any file in configOverride

    I didn’t edited any GraphicsRules.sgr I don’t even have that

    in mods file i only have Resource.cfg

     

  • 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
    1 year 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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