Some users are reporting glitched lines across their entire game screen when playing since updating to the 1.58/November/Discover University patch. The screen looks like this: (thanks to lilyinsimland for posting the image) If you are experiencing this it would be really helpful to please post the specs of your Mac. Click on the Apple in the top menu bar then About This Mac and post the following information in this thread: All of that information is really important, not just some of it. Don't post your serial number! One possible workaround is to change the game from fullscreen to windowed mode. Click on the 3 dots in the top right corner of your game then Game Options > Graphics and change the Display Type from Fullscreen to Windowed. If you want your game to fill the screen, double click on the grey title bar (where it says The Sims 4 at the top of the game window).

I was playing in fullscreen, moving it over to windowed does in fact help, putting sims 4 behind other apps won't make it glitch/freeze in windowed mode.

Anyone know what could be causing this visual glitch? It started after the free holiday update, I was running the OS Mojave, but updated to OS Catalina to see if it would help. Just downloaded University, and it’s still happening...Also, I have no CC or mods.

@Vetaforever I have no idea if this would have any impact, but what do you see if you leave TS4 in "windowed" mode but click the macOS "Full Screen" widget (the three bubbles on the top left of the window, the far right of the three - with the two triangle pointing away from each other). Does the glitching return? What about if you stay in Windowed mode and expand the window to consume all the screen real estate but NOT enter full screen mode (either via in-game or via macOS)?

@AUBLESSIMS Hi! Does turning off Edge Smoothing in your game options improve things a bit?

@Vetaforever That's a big help. Thanks for the experiments! Looks like running Windowed, but expanded to full screen, is the workaround until the root problem is identified.It might be helpful if you can go to your "About this Mac" (Apple Menu -> About this Mac) and tell us what your GPU is and the specific version of High Sierra (10.13.?). If you're behind on Apple's High Sierra patches, would you be willing to try updating? Or would you be willing to try bumping to Mojave (10.14) or Catalina (10.15)? I have NO idea if this would help, so I totally understand if the answer is "not until I know it'll make things better."

Game has glitchy lines across the whole screen

69 Replies

Pride3028
6 years ago
Anyone know what could be causing this visual glitch? It started after the free holiday update, I was running the OS Mojave, but updated to OS Catalina to see if it would help. Just downloaded University, and it’s still happening...
Also, I have no CC or mods.
Vetaforever
6 years ago
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013).
High Sierra.
After downloading the Discover University there is glitchy lines all over the screen, starting the loading screen.
Changing into window mode cures it.
But what about fullscreen?
Manuel_DKAJR
6 years ago
Product: The Sims 4
Platform:Mac
Which language are you playing the game in? English
How often does the bug occur? Every time (100%)
What is your current game version number? 1.58.63.1210
What expansions, game packs, and stuff packs do you have installed? Cats & Dogs, Get to Work, City living, Get famous, Seasons, Parenthood
Steps: How can we find the bug ourselves? N/a,
What happens when the bug occurs? the entire screen shows horizontal lines, particularly when the computer is having to render moving images, as opposed to still imaging. (see attached image)
What do you expect to see? a clear screen?
Have you installed any customization with the game, e.g. Custom Content or Mods? Never used.
Did this issue appear after a specific patch or change you made to your system? Neutral/Not Sure
‌
The attached image shows some of the distortions.
It doesn't go away and says around throughout the whole gameplay.
I noticed it occurring the other day after I was clearing some cache on my laptop, although I'm sure that I didn't clear information from the sims game file. Anyway, I have tried to repair the game, to update it, I even uninstall the game and packs, and reinstalled the game.
Also, it is worth mentioning that I use a MacBook Pro, and it runs perfectly otherwise. I have run Sims 4 for many years, as well as other programs on my laptop and have never run into this problem. I have no clue why this might be happening, I am not sure what else to try. I have also tried adjusting the graphics settings within the game to the lowest res and it still occurs.
if somebody could help me out I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks.
crinrict
Hero+
6 years ago
@Manuel_DKAJR I merged your report with the Mac report on this.

Please read the thread to see if there's any workaround yet. I'm not on top of Mac issues.
buzzbuzztuz
6 years ago
I updated the game 3 days ago and now have a major lag, no text ( in game play or CAS) after about 5 minutes of game play, static fuzz across the screen in CAS and freezes. It makes the game unplayable. I have no mods or CC, I'm running my mac on high sierra. I phoned EA and they say it's a known problem and they are working on a patch but any it seems the issue may have been going on a while for others. How long do patches take to develop?
candiecoatediv
Seasoned Ace
6 years ago
@buzzbuzztuz I think it depends on the fix. Some patches have taken six months or more. I ended up switching to A Windows Laptop because after my research, I found that no matter how much I upgraded my Mac they are not designed for gaming.
dzm06
6 years ago
@Vetaforever I have no idea if this would have any impact, but what do you see if you leave TS4 in "windowed" mode but click the macOS "Full Screen" widget (the three bubbles on the top left of the window, the far right of the three - with the two triangle pointing away from each other). Does the glitching return? What about if you stay in Windowed mode and expand the window to consume all the screen real estate but NOT enter full screen mode (either via in-game or via macOS)?
AUBLESSIMS
6 years ago
After the recent update, I’m experiencing the glitching screen as well, only it covers entire screen, staring from the time I open the game, instead of just the bottom. Whenever I try to play a saved household, the screen glitches up so badly that I can’t see anything. Never had this happen before. I’m using a MacBook Pro (mid 2015) with Catalina.
dzm06
6 years ago
@AUBLESSIMS Hi! Does turning off Edge Smoothing in your game options improve things a bit?
Vetaforever
6 years ago
1. Clicking two triangles switches the game to fullscreen. Glitches return. Need to go to menu, to change back to window mode.
2. In window mode can freely shrink-expand the window without glitches. Double-click on title panel, to automatically expand window to maximum size - no glitches.
Google didnt help.