Home » Gaming » *UPDATED* The Sims 4 July Update Release Date News & High School Years

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The Sims 4 has finally added sexual orientation in a free update released yesterday!

The update includes three new details you can fill in using create-a-sim mode, and we have the details here for you right here, right now.

It’s launched just two days before High School Years – the new expansion set to launch later today.

Read More: The Sims 4 High School expansion pack release date

You’ll be able to choose from the following three settings:

This Sim is romantically attracted to… – with ‘Men’ and ‘Women’ as checkbox options. You can select one of the options, both or none.

• This Sim is exploring romantically – with ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ as radio options.

• This Sim is interested in Mess Around with… – with ‘Men’ and ‘Women’ as checkbox options. You can select one of the options, both or none.

The new update has a far more detailed Genders Section on Create A Sim – which breaks

The Genders Section of Create A Sim will feature Gender and Sexual Orientation. There’s a section that reads: ‘The Sim is exploring romantically’ – if you click ‘no’ then your Sim will not be interested in exploring a romantic connection.

Selecting “no” will prompt this sim to reject other Sims that do not meet their attraction type.

Another cool feature is that you can ask Sims what their romantic preferences are – so your Sim will know exactly where they stand.

Here are the patch notes for the free update that’s launching today:

UPDATE: Fans are reporting Sims rapidly aging in an increased timeframe due to the patch, with the official Sims Twitter stating the following on the matter:

“Hey Simmers! We are currently investigating instances involving Sims auto-aging up in saves using the Short or Long lifespan. We recommend temporarily playing in or creating new saves with the default/“normal” lifespan, as we work towards a solution.“

It’s unclear how long it will be until a fix is put in place, however. The update also accidently added the chance of incest to the game, with family members expressing attraction towards each other. A quality designer on the game stated the following when it came to the glitch:

“I just wanted to acknowledge that the Want to date a family member is something we know about, we’ve reproduced ourselves, we’re working on it. We’re looking to get it fixed ASAP, thanks for all the bug reports, we appreciate it. We’re of course working on the aging bug too.“

The latest expansion drops on the 28th of July, 2022. It will be available on all major platforms and looks set to cost you around £34.99.

Players will be able to send their teen sims back to school in the latest Sims 4 expansion pack, allowing them to experience all the trials and tribulations that high school had to offer.

Sims in High School Years will be able to attend Copperdale High where school grades will dictate where Sims get into college. There’s even an option for Sims to study online for their GED.

As it’s very Gen Z orientated, fashion and self expression will also play a huge part in the latest expansion. “One of the core pillars of the pack is identity expression,” senior game designer Jessica Croft told Digital Spy.

Elsewhere, smartphones are set to have an update, now resembling a real smart phone screen with an app-based UI and layout.

There’s even a social media app called Social Bunny where you can interact and make posts with other Sims. Not to mention gain followers.

The free update will be launching alongside this expansion pack, though you won’t need the expansion pack itself in order to get the update.

Here are the patch notes for the free update that’s launching today:

READ MORE: You’ll soon be able to slide into other Sims’ DMs in Sims 4

Ryan Easby is a freelance writer for multiple sites. Having previously studied Journalism at Sunderland University, he made the decision to become a game journalist not long after graduating. Since then he's written for Fanbyte, Fanatical, PCGamesN, TechRaptor, Fraghero, and more. Follow him on Twitter @EasbyGames

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