The team behind the fan-favorite life simulation video game, "The Sims," is now stepping up gender customization options. The update also enable players to create Sims with any type of voice, walking style and body shape.
Developer Maxis and Electronic Arts announced a free update for "The Sims 4" that will oust gender boundaries, allowing players to build virtual townfolk (or Sims, as they've popularly known) with any kind of voice, walk style or physique they opt for.
"The Sims 4" and its predecessor limited specific hair styles, clothing and other artistic choices to either male or female characters. According to a recent post by Maxis on The Sims official website, more than 700 bits of such contents that were originally available to either male or female Sims only, can now be accessed by anyone regardless of gender in "The Sims 4" and its assorted expansion packs.
Maxis noted in a statement that it wanted to ensure that players can create characters that they can relate to or connect via powerful tools that give them control over a Sim's body type, age, gender et cetera.
This move might not bring anything new to some players who have adjusted the game for a long time in a bid to eliminate such obstacles.
Rachel Franklin, "The Sims 4" executive producer noted that Maxis and EA have been working on the update for quite a long time. The update enables male Sims to wear heels, and female Sims to don sharp men's suit, NDTV Gadgets reported.
But that's not all, players can now change their Sims' gender at any point of time and even decide if they want to reproduce with other characters.
Maxis teamed up with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group GLAAD to work on the update, and also dismissed gender symbols linked with characters in the game's gallery. This step brings "The Sims" in consonance with its portrayal of gay, lesbian and bisexual characters.
The game has encompassed same-sex relationship since its debut in 2000, however players who fancied virtual wedding of their Sims of the same sex had to wait until the developers released "The Sims 3" in 2009.
