While The Sims has always been a sandbox of possibility, up to and including misguided romantic affairs with Death, it’s still drawn lines in more traditional places. Now, though, EA and Maxis are erasing a few of them.




Previously, Sims games (including the most recent installment, Sims 4) restricted some clothes, hairstyles, and other options to male or female characters.

Today, The Associated Press reports, Maxis is releasing a Sims 4 update that will remove gender boundaries from character creation. Regardless of gender, Sims will be able to have any physique, voice, and attire. On top of that, players can now change Sims’ genders whenever they want, and they can designate which Sims are capable of reproducing.


The Sims series has allowed for same-sex romances since the original (no marriage until Sims 3, though), but trans, non-binary, and other gender identifications of players’ choosing are new territory. This is a big step.

It’s not a first for video games—the Saints Row series has allowed unfettered character customization for a couple installments, and games like Dragon Age: Inquisition and Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear have taken stabs at depicting non-player-made trans characters—but every bit counts.