Initialization Error after Updates

Hey kellenvh​, 

We have some basic troubleshooting steps that tend to resolve most of these issues post-patch, could you confirm that you've tried them all please?

• Clear EA app cache:
  • Go to the EA app’s menu.
    
    • On Windows, select the three dashes in the far-left corner of the EA app.
    • On macOS, click Help at the top of the screen, then choose App Recovery.
  • Scroll to Help.
  • Click App recovery.
  • Select Clear cache.
    
    
• Clear Sims 4 cache:
  • Go to: Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4
  • Delete the file named localthumbcache.package
    
    
• Remove mods/CC temporarily:
  • Rename the entire Mods folder to something else and test launching.
    
    
• Repair game through EA App:
  • Right-click The Sims 4 > Repair.
    
    
• Update GPU drivers:
  • Make sure your graphics card drivers are the latest from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
    
    
• Disable overlays:
  • Disable EA App, Discord, Steam overlays if active.

I've done all these every single time.  They haven't worked so far. 

Guys... This worked for me... The mods don't have ANY problem...

I started a new game and renamed my saves folder to saves2. Started a new game and saved. Then I copied my save slots from saves2 to saves and then I ran the game and loaded my old save file and IT WORKED!!!!!!

The saves is definitely the problem as I removed my saves and started a new game and it loaded up. Unfortunately when i put my old saves into the new folder, when I try to load them up, the game still crashes.

just copy the save slots and not the other folders automatically created on the saves folder 

I've tried your steps, and I'm still having the initialization error as well.

it worked for me. but I'm running the game on a Mac but I supposed that if the game saves was the issue that the solution would be the same for Mac and PC users

I'm on Windows.  This has been going on for over a year.  It will play just fine, then one day it doesn't.  This time after an update.  At first, I spent weeks figuring out how to do all the things suggested.  None of them worked.  Then one day, it just played again.  Then it stopped again.  It won't work for a month or two, then it magically works again.  And I've done nothing different.  It's really annoying to lose the game for a month or two every month or two, never knowing what causes it, or fixes it.  Whatever it is, it's never been my computer.  😠

If it helps, this is the error message.

Heya kellenvh​ 

Are you running any antivirus software? If so can you disable it long enough to try launching The Sims 4 and let me know if that helps?

If you're able to launch with the AV disabled, you'll want to add The Sims 4 to the exceptions list to resolve this.