The Sims 4: Everything Added in the Free Base Game Update (09/18)

Even though The Sims 4 has been out for nearly a decade, it still receives frequent updates. With rumors of The Sims 5 being scrapped, Sims 4 players will likely continue to see regular content updates and more DLC packs in the future.

The developers are still working hard to make sure that Sims 4 players are able to have an enjoyable and refreshing experience as the months go by. This article shows players the additions made to The Sims 4 in the latest content update. On top of this, it also goes over the improvements announced in the update patch notes.

Free Base Game Items in The Sims 4

The patch released on September 18, 2024, added over 30 new items to The Sims 4 base game completely free of cost. Here are all the new items that gamers will find in The Sims 4 Build Mode:

1. Wilder Prairie-Style Entry Frame
2. Prairie-Style Entry Frame
3. Taller Prairie-Style Entry Frame
4. Taller and Wider Prairie-Style Entry Frame
5. Tallest Prarie-Style Entry Frame
6. Tallest and Widest Prairie-Style Entry Frame
7. Door #242 by Pointless Renovation
8. Door #51323 by Pointless Renovation
9. Door #118211 by Pointless Renovation
10. Door #3125 by Pointless Renovation
11. Door #82728 by Pointless Renovation
12. Iconless Fiberglass Door
13. Kickless Fiberglass Door
14. Trabeated Entry Frame
15. Trabeated Entry Frame – Medium Height
16. Trabeated Wide Entry Frame – Medium Height
17. Trabeated Entry Frame – Extended Height
18. Trabeated Wide Entry Frame – Extended Height
19. Trabeated Entry Frame – Elevated Height
20. Trabeated Wide Entry Frame – Elevated Height
21. Delight
22. VAULT 2 Pro-Er-Level Bar
23. The Sloop Jr.
24. 21 Rock
25. A Fine Geometry Ground Pavers
26. Grassy Pavers
27. Gravel Pavers
28. Bright Moss
29. Murky Moss
30. Rich Moss
31. Pebbles Please
32. Rock Storm
33. Weeds are Flowers Too

This update introduced various new doors, ground patterns, and archways, making it easier for fans to find the right one for their builds in The Sims 4. On top of this, bars received different-sized variants, so Sims who want to work on the Mixology Skill in The Sims 4 can place them according to the style and the free space available in their homes.

Dozens of items also got access to more swatches. According to The Sims Team, there are a total of 650 new variants for all sorts of Build Mode items in The Sims 4.

Additionally, several changes were made to improve the performance of The Sims 4, such as frequent memory updates and optimization of render target allocation. Check out the latest patch notes on these improvements.

The Sims 4 Update 09/18/2024 Patch Notes

Performance

• Reducing Memory Usage
  • Frequent Memory Updates – Increased the frequency of memory usage data updates to prevent out-of-memory crashes.
• Improving Simulation Performance
  • Streamlining Data Storage – We restructured how we store game data to reduce the overhead of using Python objects, making the game run faster and use less memory.
  • Efficient Buff Generation – Reworked how temporary data is generated and stored to fix previous issues and optimize memory usage.
• Reducing Load Times
  • Optimizing Render Target Allocation – Stopped unnecessary allocation of large color targets during certain rendering processes, now saving valuable memory, especially in high-resolution settings.

DirectX 11 (DX11) Updates

We’re pleased to announce improvements to the DirectX 11 executable for PC users. While these updates are focused on Windows PCs, Xbox Simmers will also see benefits from these changes as the Xbox runs a console-based variant of DirectX 11. Here’s what to expect:

• NVIDIA and AMD
  • NVIDIA and AMD Graphics Cards
    • Players using NVIDIA and AMD GPUs will now automatically default to the DX11 executable. Players on other GPUs like Intel, will continue to enjoy The Sims 4 on DX9 until a later update.
  • DirectX 11 Enhancements
    • Faster Graphics Processing – Implemented changes to how graphics data is updated, reducing delays between the CPU and GPU for smoother gameplay.
  • Performance Boost with Constant Buffers (cbuffers)
    • This enhances performance by reducing overhead and managing memory more efficiently. Users with mid to high-end GPUs should notice improved performance!
  • New DirectX 9 Option in Graphics Setting
    • By default, Simmers on NVIDIA and AMD GPUs will launch The Sims 4 using DX11. If you prefer, you can switch to DX9 via Game Options > Graphics and enable the DirectX 9 toggle before re-launching The Sims 4 to play using DirectX 9.
• Intel
  • Ongoing Intel Development
    • We are continuing development on bringing DirectX 11 to Intel GPU-based PCs but it needs a little longer before we can bring it to Simmers as the default option. For now, Intel-based Simmers will continue to use DirectX 9 when running The Sims 4.
  • DirectX 11 Opt-In
    • DirectX 11 is available for those Simmers who want to try it, including those using an Intel GPU, you may experience visual issues with mods. We recommend disabling all mods while using the -dx11 command line argument.

To read about the bug fixes made to each Expansion, Game, and Stuff Pack, check out the full Sims 4 update patch notes here.