Hero Image

The Sims launches gender affirming character updates including top surgery scars

Since its launch over 20 years ago, The Sims has become one of the most successful and iconic computer games on the market. Despite the fact the fourth version has been out for nine years, developers are still regularly releasing updates and the latest has caught a lot of people's attention.

The Sims

announced that the new base game update will include "medical wearables, binders, shapewear" for anyone who's Sim is exploring their gender identity, giving players more control over their Sim's presentation.

Fans have praised the news for its inclusivity, with many calling it "cool" and "beautiful" and thanking the creators for this small but impactful update.

Discover, learn, grow. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The Sims is a franchise that allows players to create their own world and lives, often acting as an escape for fans who are unable to express themselves freely in the outside world.

In an Instagram post, the EA-owned game wrote: "A base game update is here with new content including medical wearables, binders, shapewear, a light switch & more including bug fixes & console gameplay improvements."

Medical wearables will include hearing aids with multiple colour options and Glucose monitors that can be added to any Sim from toddler upwards. Binders and other shapewear are also being introduced in the game, these are often used by non-binary and trans people to give them their desired body shape.

One comment said: "Being a non-binary person and playing this game for 14 years, this means so much to me and makes me feel seen by something that has already been a giant comfort to my life."

"Wait, are those top surgery scars?" asked another excited player, to which the account replied "Yibs", which means yes in Similish - the Sim's language.

There were some comments with a negative response to the update but this didn't phase most fans, as one said: "For those triggered people complaining again; don't play the sims if you can't handle inclusivity and representation because sims always have been inclusive."

Others pointed out that the scars shown in the image were not just relevant to transgender players, with one woman saying: "I'm cis but this is representation for my breast reduction. Love it."

Fans picked up on the fact a light switch was included in this update, which had some players more excited than the rest of the additions. "Finally the sims will have a light-switch," wrote one player.

Another tweeted: "I love that it is like: 'inclusivity, inclusivity, inclusivity, and a light switch.'" A third said: "I'm trans but I'm so hyped for a light switch."

Some fans got a lost by the announcement of a light switch and joked: "Oh ok, I thought I was just confused and a light switch was a term I hadn't heard before."

The lack of a light switch in the game has long been a bugbear of dedicated players, despite the fact it is not needed in the actual gameplay.

The Sims received an overwhelmingly positive response to this update but some did note that there was still a long way to go with wheelchairs still unavailable in the base game.

Do you have a story to share? We pay for stories. Email us at

READ ON APP