How New CAS Starter Sims Expand Cultural Expression in The Sims 4

As part of The Sims’ ongoing commitment to our value of inclusivity, the eight new default Sims and CAS accessories introduced in the July 21 free base game update are influenced by Native American, South Asian, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures.

Download the new Sims now on the Maxis Gallery page!

We’ll also have more free content releases throughout the year that expand representation in-game with everyday clothing and Build/Buy items, so you can create a wider variety of Sims and stories.

The Inspiration

To create the new default Sims, the team worked with cultural experts and drew inspiration from their own backgrounds. 

Identity is at the heart of The Sims. It’s a space for you to tell your stories the way that only you can, so it's important to us that our players see themselves represented in the game.

We are always looking for ways to improve, and one of the ways we do that is by listening to you. 

Data from a player survey earlier this year told us that visual identity representation for certain cultural groups had room to grow, so we looked at existing CAS Sims. Sure enough, the opportunities we found to expand representation in CAS aligned with what you wanted to see based on the survey results. 

Shortly afterwards, the team began researching and kicked off the detailed design process to create Sims and accessories with influence from Native American, South Asian, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures.

The Design Process

Our first step was assessing where we could expand storytelling opportunities in the game. We decided to create a unique accessory for each new Sim to complement their clothing, giving players even more ways to customize their characters in CAS.

Throughout the project, we consulted with both EA-internal and external cultural experts through our Games for All-team and SILA Consulting. They started by providing us with references to inspire our designs, then shared their feedback and perspective on every draft to help ensure they felt authentic.

We iterated each piece accordingly, and sought out multiple perspectives on every aspect of the new Sims, including their bodies, faces, skin tones, aspirations, traits, accessories, and clothing.

For instance, the cowrie shell and beaded bracelet worn by Yuniel Suarez was inspired by Afro-Caribbean styles. Working with our consultants, we explored how similar pieces have historic significance and continue to be worn across many communities today. We added vibrant color options to accessorize both neutral and colorful outfit choices.

In addition to working with consultants, members of The Sims team contributed their personal experiences to these characters from their own backgrounds. 

Throughout the design process, we found that our team members gravitated toward working on the Sims they connected with culturally. For example, one of our Caribbean team members weighed in on the outfit and style for Lisette Baptiste..

For Monica Garcia, we drew inspiration from several facial references. While she was inspired by multiple sources, one of our Latin American concept artists mentioned that she unintentionally resembles their cousin!

Accessory Spotlight

Roshni Agarwal's bangles were refined with guidance from our consultants, who reviewed our concepts and recommended making them thinner to better reflect popular styles across South Asia. We also expanded the range of designs and created versions in different metal tones to complement a wider variety of outfits.

Mohan Singh wears a kara (or kada), a bracelet with particular significance in the Sikh faith that serves as an important identity marker for many Sikhs.

These additions reflect just a small part of the diversity of South Asian identities, but we hope they add nuance and authenticity to the stories our Simmers choose to tell.

Rodrigo Vargas wears a bracelet made with huayruro seeds, introducing a culturally inspired accessory with a unique design that is new to The Sims 4. 

Recently, a Peruvian Simmer shared with us that they own a very similar bracelet in real life. Our goal is to have these accessories connect our players’ Sims to their real world selves while providing opportunities for those unfamiliar with the culture to learn and appreciate them. 

Traits and Aspirations

Once we designed all eight new Sims, it was time to craft their stories. 

In collaboration with the cultural experts, we selected traits and aspirations to feel authentic while ensuring no single aspect of their identity defined who they are.

For example, Roshni has the Vegetarian trait, reflecting traditions found in many South Asian communities. She's also a creative art-lover with the Neighborhood Confidante aspiration, so you'll likely find her building connections and bringing Sims together wherever she goes. 

Nathan Goodstrike has the Bestselling Author aspiration, inspired in part by the rich storytelling traditions found across many Native communities. Beyond that, he's neat, self-assured, and a genius, a combination we're excited to see players build on in their own stories. 

Welcome the new Sims into your stories by downloading from the Maxis Gallery page. Their accessories are also available in CAS to add new flair to any of your existing Sims. 

Join The Sims Discord to share your creations with us! We’d love to see the stories you tell with these Sims, styles, and accessories.