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Want a Guaranteed Way to Fix Your Unplayable Sims 4 Game After the Newest Update?
A recent update to The Sims 4 on August 19, 2025, has created significant problems for many players. The update introduced a new feature for selecting game packs. While intended to give players more control, it has unfortunately made the game unplayable for those who use modifications, or “mods.”
Players are reporting that they cannot load their saved games or even start playing. This guide will explain what is happening in simple terms and offer clear steps you can take to fix the issues and get back to your game.
The core of the problem lies with the new Pack Selection tool itself. This feature was designed to let you turn expansion packs on or off before you start playing. However, a serious flaw exists. If a player tries to disable all of their packs and then enable them again, the game often gets stuck on a loading screen that never ends. This issue was highlighted by well-known content creator LilSimsie, who shared a video of this exact problem occurring, trapping the game in a loop.
Why Your Mods Suddenly Stopped Working
The trouble goes deeper than just the new feature. The game’s developer, EA, made fundamental changes to the game’s core programming. These changes directly conflict with how many popular mods function. According to a modder known as Spinning Plumb Bobs, any mod that uses a specific method to add content or change gameplay now causes the game to send players back to the main world selection screen, preventing them from playing.
This affects a huge number of beloved mods. Everything from mods that alter the main menu to those that add new character interactions are impacted. To understand why, think of the game’s code as a series of hooks, like hooks on a wall where you hang pictures. Mod creators use these hooks to add their new features into the game.
Zerbu, the creator of the popular Mod Constructor tool, explained that the update inserted new code into a very important line that many mods use as their main “hook.” This change essentially broke the hook, so any mod trying to use it can no longer connect to the game properly. The result is that when players try to enter Live Mode with their usual mods installed, the game fails to load.
How to Get Your Game Running Again
While the situation is difficult, there are ways to solve it. Mod creators are working hard to update their creations to be compatible with the new game version. Zerbu has already released fixes for mods made with the Mod Constructor tool. Patience is key, as the talented modding community is known for its quick response to these challenges. In the coming days, you can expect most of your favorite mods to be updated and working again.
However, if you want to play immediately, you have a few options.
The Clean Slate Approach
The simplest, though most drastic, solution is to remove all of your mods from the game’s mod folder. You can move them to a temporary folder on your desktop for safekeeping. Starting the game with no mods installed will bypass the errors and allow you to play. At least one user has confirmed this method works. The downside is that you will be playing the “vanilla” game without any of your custom content or gameplay enhancements.
The Selective Method
A more careful approach is to test your mods one by one or in small batches. This can help you identify exactly which mod is causing the game to break. While this takes time, it allows you to keep using the mods that are still compatible with the new update. Always make sure to back up your save files before you start testing mods.
Wait for Community Fixes
The most common and often best solution is to simply wait a few days. The modding community is incredibly active. Creators will release updated versions of their mods that work with the latest patch. Keep an eye on the websites where you download your mods for these updates.
This is not the first time a game update has caused widespread issues with mods. It is a recurring event in the life of a heavily-modded game like The Sims 4. Each new patch can alter the game’s code, and modders must then adjust their work to match. The community has a long history of overcoming these hurdles, so you can be confident that solutions will become widely available very soon.