Sims 4 crashes when traveling to any lot

sydneycosby  Did you test in both DirectX 9 and 11 modes in both console and desktop modes, as in, all four combinations?  I just want to make sure that none of these helped before moving on.

Additionally, does this happen in a new save, or only in an existing one?  Please test if you haven't already.  I'm not saying the problem is your save, only that this is a useful comparison.

I've not the slightest idea what you just said. Mine is doing the same thing. I can't travel or it crashes. I just tried a new save and that seems to help. Though when I tried to save the family to the gallery, it showed them there, then the new game couldn't find them.

I lied. It just crashed when I traveled again. 

Joelochi3  Are you playing on a Steam Deck or a different type of system?  Is there any pattern to which lots cause a crash, for example can your sims travel to the neighbor's house but not the park or library or a different world?  Are these lots that already existed, or did you place them?

Please also let me know whether any of the problem lots are using lot traits or challenges.  You can go to Manage Worlds and load these lots in Build mode to find out.

I can't be certain that I checked all the combinations, so I went ahead and checked each. Apologies for taking a day, but I knew this would take a while, so I had to wait until I had the time. 

I tested this using random lots each time, since I haven't noticed a pattern yet. I just did back-to-back lot changes until a crash happened. 

• Old Save Results
  • Console
    • Direct 9 - 10 lot changes and no crash, triple speed and bringing 8 sims
    • Direct 11 - Crashed on 7th lot change
  • Desktop
    • Direct 9 - Crashed on 8th lot change
    • Direct 11 -Permanent loading screen on 4th lot change
• Fresh Save
  • Console
    • Direct 9 - 12 lot changes and no crash
    • Direct 11 - Crashed on 3rd lot change
  • Desktop
    • Direct 9 - Permanent loading screen on 1st lot change 
    • Direct 11 - Crashed on 5th lot change

It seems like the best option by far is DirectX 9 in console mode. That permanent loading screen on the first lot change could have been a fluke on the desktop, new save test. However, even in Desktop mode DirectX 9 performed better. Thank you for the tips!! I would have never thought to test all those options on my own. 

sydneycosby  The infinite loading screen could also be a separate issue, specifically a problem with the Off the Grid challenge, which is broken right now:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Bug-Reports/OPEN-Off-the-grid-lot-challenge-keeps-lot-from-loading-Error-109/td-p/14051036

Some lots are OtG by default, so you could see the challenge in a new save without editing the lot.

Separately, some lots built before the For Rent patch (December) that were originally fine are now broken, also causing crashing or infinite loading.  So if you want to download something from the Gallery, test it in a new save before placing it in your main one.  Default lots already in the game are fine.

Thanks for reporting all your testing.  It's always helpful to hear from someone who has the hardware in front of them, and even more so when they're careful and thorough.

I get the infinite loading screen all the time, even last night when I was building in a new save. I wasn't using the off the grid lot type though. 

Thank you for all the help! I used to play all the time and got the steam deck hoping it would be better than my old laptop, and since I got the SD it has just seemed like constant issue with The Sims. It works fantastic for other games though. 

I am on the Steam Deck. The lots are all existing lots. It started with only the main sim having issues when I went to work in the science career and getting home. Then my sims spouse couldn't get back home from the library lot in Britechester.

The mods I currently have are MC Command, MC woohoo, UI Cheats, and the Smarter Pie Menu. I have tried with and without the mods. I also tried a new save. A new household (from CAS), and an older saved game.

At the moment it seems to be working again. I will update if it goes off again.