Sims 4's Inclusive Updates Is Still Missing One Important Thing

Summary The Sims 4 has made great strides in inclusion and representation but lacks basic accessibility features.

Players appreciate diverse character options but demand keybind customization and alternate controller support.

EA should address accessibility concerns like dark mode and representation of disabilities for a more inclusive game.

The Sims 4 has improved inclusion and representation with new updates. Players appreciate and receive these changes that build a more diverse and representative world. However, The Sims 4 continues to neglect key features that would make it more accessible for all players.

Since its release in September 2014, The Sims 4 has made large strides toward inclusion. Some of these changes have included expanding options for gender-diverse people and adding new styles of hair and features that represent people from all over the world. Despite great steps toward building inclusivity The Sims 4 lacks basic accessibility features that are standard in other video games, like keybind swapping.

Related The Sims 4: All Hidden Worlds (And How to Access Them) There are several hidden areas in the different neighborhoods of The Sims 4, many in the base game. Here's where they are and how to unlock them.

The Sims 4 Still Has Issues With Keybind Accessibility

Still Missing Key Features

Since its launch, The Sims 4 has lacked keyboard customization. In a Reddit post, user John_Icarus notes that some basic features, including changing keyboard layouts and swapping keybinds, are missing. The title also does not allow players to use alternate controller types.

The dearth of these customization options can present an issue for people with disabilities who need a different setup, and the ability to switch keybinds beyond the typical American keyboard setup would help any player use a different setup. Adding alternate controller options would make the game more accessible to a wider range of people.

Electronic Arts has integrated some accessibility tools into the game in the past. One feature added was the option to increase the size of text and menu items using the accessibility menu. This improvement helps visually impaired people interact with the game more easily. It was partnered with an option to link the UI scale with the player's UI. Despite improving some aspects for visually impaired folks, EA has not yet added a colorblind mode into the game.

Related The Sims 4 Growing Together Review: Fun For All Ages The Sims 4 Growing Together adds a massive amount of new depth to the game perfect for narratively driven players despite its lackluster world.

EA Should Address Other Accessibility Issues

Proper Steps Should Be Taken

Players have voiced concerns about other features that would improve the quality of life and accessibility of The Sims 4. For example, including a dark mode would help reduce the eye strain of players sensitive to light. Other Simmers have noted that the inclusion of wheelchairs and canes would also help better represent different aspects of disabilities.

Related Everything We Know About Sims 5 & Project Rene (So Far) Even though the next game in the Sims franchise, Project Rene - which many call The Sims 5 - is years out, there is plenty of known info already.

While EA should continue building inclusive and diverse packs, the studio should consider taking substantial steps to tackle the title's ease of use. One of the first steps the studio should consider is adding the ability for players to customize their layout. In the meantime, modders have developed tools such as David Libeau's GameToSpeech mod, which adds audio description into the game, dictating what items players interact with and events that happen to their own Sims. However, before the sequel releases, The Sims 4 must address its accessibility issues.

Source: John_Icarus/Reddit, GameToSpeech