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2ac55a3593fc69fb's avatar
2ac55a3593fc69fb
Seasoned Newcomer
23 days ago

horrendous black squares appearing beneath Sim

Hello,
Whenever I want to put the Lighting on 'Medium/High/Very High', a black square flickers underneath my Sims when I have my cursor over them. (photo included), it is jarring and makes the game feel buggy.

I bought my iMac in 2026, this should not be a problem with the computer being unable to do something, although it might be a MacOS and Sims compatibility problem.

I have tried removing all of my mods, nothing, repairing the Sims 4, nothing, changing the SSAO in the .sgr, nothing. I have tried asking AI and it just tells me to do what I have already tried. I don't use a CC overlay, mostly just the base game and a few packs here and there..

The only thing that seems to work is using 'Laptop Mode ON', but I do not want to use Laptop Mode ON, the entire point of having a good computer is that I don't have to have the game look terrible.

I figure either EA doesn't know about this problem, or Mac users are just giving in to the Laptop Mode. I don't know what to make of this.

ea app
graphics

7 Replies

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    22 days ago

    2ac55a3593fc69fb​ 

    This has been a known issue on and off for years but doesn't affect all Mac users. If disabling the SSAO doesn't fix it then it is most likely specific clothing items. Which exact model Mac do you have? Apple > About This Mac, all the info apart from the serial number please.

    Could you please upload that sim to the gallery in that exact outfit so I can test in my game.

  • 2ac55a3593fc69fb's avatar
    2ac55a3593fc69fb
    Seasoned Newcomer
    21 days ago

    It's a 10-core m4 iMac 24", bought this year with the most recent OS from this year also, the Sim is wearing the ragged cowboy hat from Strangerville, a western top also perhaps from Strangerville and the rest is base game, I have played another Sim (without any mods) with different clothing and had the same issue, whenever I was hovering over any action-able object whilst the camera was "indoors".

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    19 days ago

    2ac55a3593fc69fb​ 

    2ac55a3593fc69fb wrote:

    with the most recent OS from this year

    Which exact version please?

    Could you please post a screenshot of your in-game graphics options?

  • 2ac55a3593fc69fb's avatar
    2ac55a3593fc69fb
    Seasoned Newcomer
    18 days ago

    Hello, (this bug hasn't been fixed by the latest updates),
    macOS Tahoe v. 26.3.1.
    these are the graphics selections I am currently using.

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    18 days ago

    2ac55a3593fc69fb​ 

    Was there anything in the patch notes stating it would be fixed? I don't think there was.

    Can you please change all your settings to the same as mine for comparison:

    You don't need to get the resolution exactly the same, just so long as it's in Windowed mode and you've made the game window fill most of the Desktop.

  • 2ac55a3593fc69fb's avatar
    2ac55a3593fc69fb
    Seasoned Newcomer
    15 days ago

    Hello, I'm not sure what is exactly working here, my guess is that the game does not like it when you have Lighting on Medium or above without Post Processing Effects on?
    I'm getting a lot of FPS issues even after putting the resolution down on my iMac down to 4K than I had before, I still have the Edge Smoothing on low, reflections low, visual effects low, objects medium, uncompressed sim textures off.

  • Bluebellflora's avatar
    Bluebellflora
    Hero+
    15 days ago

    2ac55a3593fc69fb​

    When you change the settings to as close to mine as you can get does it get rid of the problem? Or at least mitigate it? But when you do you get fps drops? Sorry, I don't full understand your post.

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