The latest expansion pack for Sims 4  has just dropped and introduces a number of romance-related features including the ability for players to use dating apps, select their turn-ons and turn-offs, and explore new romance dynamics, such as polyamorous relationships. 

Originally released in 2000, The Sims series of video games has long pushed the boundaries of LGBTQ+ inclusion in video games.

In 2004, the release of Sims 2 introduced the ability for players to have their Sims ‘WooHoo’. The interaction feature allowed two Sims, regardless of gender, to engage in intercourse in the game. While these encounters are far from explicit, the early adoption of same-sex relationships in The Sims has made the game a stand out when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation. 

Sims 4, which was released in 2014, has received a number of expansion packs in its decade-long history, including expansion packs focused on careers, city living, and even vampires!

The most recent addition to the Sims 4 expansion packs is called ‘Lovestruck’. Released today, July 25, it will be accompanied by a game patch that will allow all Sims players, regardless of whether they have the expansion pack or not, to benefit from its dating-themed perks, including the ability to enter into polyamorous relationships.

The official Sims blog issued a statement on the newly-released expansion pack and its new ‘Romantic Boundaries’ system, claiming that polyamory will be customisable for all Sims and will “separate out physical and emotional exclusivity”. 

“Free for all players is the new Romantic Boundaries system that will allow you to customize your Sim’s experience with boundaries and jealousy. You can define how your Sims approach romantic relationships in terms of physical and emotional exclusivity. This allows for Sims to date multiple Sims without impact to other relationships,” the statement read. 

While the game has previously allowed players to define their Sims’ romantic and sexual orientation, the new expansion pack will include jealousy boundaries that have previously prevented users from ‘dating’ more than one other Sim. 

In the past, romantic jealousy has been a hallmark of The Sims, preventing Sim A from crushing on both Sim B and Sim C without the characters getting jealous. The new ‘Lovestruck’ expansion pack will allow players to move around this jealousy by setting firm emotional and sexual boundaries within their Sim’s relationships. 

Check out gameplay footage from the new Sims 4 ‘Lovestruck’ expansion pack in the gameplay trailer below: