[CRITICAL] Paint from Reference Paintings Lose Image Data and Go Blank - Post-Adventure Awaits Patch

Product: The Sims 4
Platform: PC (Windows 11 10.0.26100)
Language: English
Game Version: 1.118.257.1020-1.300.000.223.Release
Packs Installed: All expansion packs (including Adventure Awaits), all game packs, all stuff packs (except Bust the Dust), all owned kits
Mods/CC: None - 100% vanilla game, never used mods. Mod/CC options explicitly disabled in game settings.
Installation: Fresh install of EA App and The Sims 4 on brand new PC (tested on both existing save and completely fresh installation)
Frequency: Every time (100%)
Issue Started: After Adventure Awaits expansion release (October 2, 2025 patch)

Bug Description

"Paint from Reference" paintings complete successfully with proper images, but lose their image data when moved from inventory to wall, resulting in blank canvases. The severity varies between older saves and fresh installations, but the core bug affects all vanilla gameplay.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Have a Sim reach Painting Level 3 (when Paint from Reference unlocks)
2. Use easel to "Paint from Reference"
3. Complete the painting successfully
4. Place completed painting in Sim's inventory
5. Place painting from inventory onto a wall
6. (Optional) Save game and reload

What Happens - Progressive Degradation

Stage 1: Initial Creation

• Painting completes with proper image ✓
• Looks correct on easel

Stage 2: In Inventory

• Painting shows proper image in inventory ✓
• Thumbnail displays correctly

Stage 3: Placed on Wall from Inventory

• Painting frame is visible but canvas is completely BLANK
• Lost the reference image data
• Frame and name remain, but painting surface is white/empty

Stage 4: After Save/Reload (Behavior Varies - See Testing Evidence Below)

• Older saves: Painting becomes completely invisible (no frame, nothing)
• Fresh installations: Painting remains visible but stays blank

What Should Happen

• Painting should retain its reference image through all stages
• Moving to/from inventory should not affect image data
• Save/reload should preserve painting correctly
• Family portrait paintings should be permanent keepsakes

Testing Evidence - Two Scenarios

TEST 1: Existing Save on Initial Installation

Save Details:

• Household with 3 Sims, all with crafting/creative skills
• Save file had been played for multiple sessions post-Adventure Awaits
• Paintings from reference in household were already showing issues

Results:

Stage 1 - Completion: Painting looked correct ✓

Stage 2 - Inventory: Painting showed correct image ✓

Stage 3 - Wall from Inventory: Canvas went completely BLANK ⚠️

Stage 4 - After Save/Reload: Painting became COMPLETELY INVISIBLE ❌

• No frame visible
• No canvas visible
• Object still existed (took up wall space)
• Could not be selected or removed

Additional Observations from Older Save:

• Other paintings from reference in household were already blank
• Some had been blank for multiple play sessions
• Issue appeared to worsen over time with continued gameplay

TEST 2: Fresh Save on Fresh Installation (After Complete Uninstall/Reinstall)

Installation Process:

1. Completely uninstalled The Sims 4 and EA App
2. Deleted entire "Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4" folder
3. Emptied recycle bin (no recovery possible)
4. Fresh reinstall of EA App
5. Fresh reinstall of The Sims 4 with all owned content
6. Configured game settings (mods/CC explicitly disabled)
7. Created brand new save file with new Sim

Save Details:

• Single Sim (Casey Sinclair), Critter Hunter aspiration
• Traits: Loves Outdoors, Loner, Practice Makes Perfect
• Brand new lot in Gibbi Point (Adventure Awaits world)
• No legacy data, no previous saves
• Leveled painting skill to Level 3 through normal gameplay

Results:

Stage 1 - Completion: Painting looked correct ✓ (video available)

Stage 2 - Inventory: Painting showed correct image ✓ (video available)

Stage 3 - Wall from Inventory: Canvas went completely BLANK ⚠️ (video available)

Stage 4 - After Save/Reload: Painting REMAINED VISIBLE but STAYED BLANK ⚠️

• Frame still visible
• Canvas still blank (no image recovery)
• Can be selected and removed
• Did not become invisible like in older save

Video Evidence: Complete video sequence captured showing:

1. Painting completing with proper image on easel
2. Moving painting to wall (looks correct initially)
3. Moving painting to inventory (shows correct image)
4. Placing painting from inventory back to wall (goes blank)
5. Blank painting after save/reload (visible but no image)

Key Differences Between Test Scenarios

Both scenarios break the feature completely - players lose their family portrait paintings either way.

Impact

🔴 DESTROYS PLAYER MEMORIES

• Family portrait paintings are lost permanently
• Cannot preserve Sim milestones (weddings, pregnancies, childhood, etc.)
• Legacy gameplay severely impacted

🔴 AFFECTS VANILLA GAME

• No mods or CC involved
• Occurs after game repair
• Occurs in brand new saves on fresh installations
• Cannot be fixed by standard troubleshooting

🔴 PROGRESSIVE CORRUPTION

• Bug occurs during normal gameplay (moving paintings)
• Worsens with save/reload cycles in older saves
• No way to prevent or recover lost images

🔴 100% REPRODUCIBLE

• Tested on existing save: Bug present ✓
• Tested after game repair: Bug present ✓
• Tested on fresh installation: Bug present ✓
• Tested in new save on fresh install: Bug present ✓

Suspected Cause

Adventure Awaits patch appears to have broken the save/load system for "Paint from Reference" image data. The game:

• Successfully creates the painting with reference image
• Stores image data correctly initially
• FAILS to preserve image data when object moves to/from inventory
• Cannot reconstruct image reference on reload
• Leaves blank canvas or invisible object depending on save age

This suggests the image reference pointer/data is stored incorrectly or gets corrupted during inventory serialization.

Related Long-Standing Issue

This bug has been reported for years in various forms:

• Players report paintings going black/blank periodically
• Issue affects both "Paint from Reference" and photographs
• Has been marked "Fixed" in previous patches but clearly persists
• Adventure Awaits patch appears to have made it worse or more consistent

This time it's 100% reproducible in fresh vanilla installations, making it easier to diagnose and fix.

System Information

• OS: Windows 11 10.0.26100
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050
• Origin Version: 13,566,0,6079
• PC: Brand new system with fresh Windows installation

Media Evidence Available

• Video: Complete sequence showing painting creation → blank canvas progression (I don't know how to share this at the moment)
• Can provide save file if EA requests it

Troubleshooting Already Completed

✅ FRESH INSTALLATION on brand new PC - no previous Sims 4 data
✅ Clean install of EA App
✅ Clean install of The Sims 4 and all DLC
✅ Repaired game through EA App
✅ Tested in brand new save file
✅ Confirmed zero mods/CC installed
✅ Cleared cache files
✅ Issue persists after all standard troubleshooting
✅ Issue reproduces 100% of the time

Related Issues

I am also experiencing a separate but potentially related bug with Corndogs (and possibly other recipes) appearing as blank icons and creating invisible food items. See my other bug report: [link when posted]

Both bugs involve objects losing their visual/data properties, suggesting a broader issue with the crafting/object system in the Adventure Awaits patch.

Can anyone else reproduce this issue with Paint from Reference in vanilla games with the current patch?

EA: This destroys player memories and family legacy gameplay. Players invest significant time in these paintings only to lose them permanently. Please prioritize this fix.