The Sims 4 Family Tree Overhaul: Developer Q&A Breakdown
The Sims team has shared new details about a free base game update for The Sims 4, which was released today. You can read more about this update in our full article. During a special Q&A session on the official Discord server, the developers discussed the revamped family tree, new types of family relationships, and additional features tied to dynasty gameplay and The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy.
We’ve gathered and reworked the key developer answers to clearly explain how the family tree is changing, which features are coming to the base game, and which mechanics will be exclusive to expansion pack owners.
The Updated Family Tree Is Deeper and More Readable
One of the most significant changes in this update is the expanded depth of the family tree. Players can now view up to ten generations of Sims — five generations above and five generations below their current Sim. This is especially important for players who enjoy long-running dynasties and carefully track their family history across generations.
The developers noted that the family tree will populate automatically as long as the relevant Sim data still exists in the save file and hasn’t been removed by the game’s optimization system.
New Family Relationships and Labels
The family tree now includes a wide range of officially recognized relationship types. Aunts, uncles, cousins, great-grandparents, half-siblings, step-relatives, and in-law relationships are all now displayed correctly.
Special attention was given to relationships by marriage — all in-law connections are now visible directly in the family tree. This makes complex family structures much clearer, especially in saves involving remarriages and divorces.
Some relationship labels have also been updated. For example, a deceased spouse is now marked as Late Spouse, while divorced couples receive the Ex-Spouse label, better reflecting the context of their relationship.
Stepparents and Step-Siblings
Previously, these relationships existed implicitly, but with this update, stepparents and step-siblings are now fully recognized by the system and displayed with proper labels in the family tree. This change makes family dynamics more realistic and easier to understand in blended households.
It’s important to note that step relationships are removed after a divorce if the marriage was the only link between the two family branches.
Adoption and Biological Parents
The developers confirmed that adoption does not overwrite family history. Adoptive parents are treated as full parents, while adopted Sims can simultaneously have both biological and adoptive parents.
Players can also choose whether the Adopted status is shown in the family tree. This option is available in the game settings and is disabled by default.
Existing Saves and Premade Families
The updated family tree applies to older save files as well, provided the necessary Sim data still exists. This means players do not need to start a new save to benefit from most of the improvements.
Some pre-made families, including the Goths and the Landgraabs, received expanded family trees with ancestors and dynasty-specific details. However, these changes are only available in new saves.
Romantic Restrictions and Autonomous Behavior
As part of the update, the developers revised the rules for romantic interactions. Sims can no longer initiate romance with direct ancestors or descendants, and autonomous romantic behavior between in-laws and step-relatives has been disabled.
At the same time, the game will not break existing relationships in older saves, ensuring that ongoing storylines remain intact.
Features Exclusive to The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy
Some mechanics are exclusive to The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy. These include the ability to forge family relationships using a special object, which may trigger a scandal if the deception is exposed. The expansion also allows players to adopt Sims of any age, opening up new storytelling possibilities for found families and dynasties.
All secret relationships, hidden children, and falsified family ties will be displayed directly in the family tree using unique visual indicators.
Data Cleanup and Preserved Ancestors
When the game removes inactive Sims to optimize performance, the names and portraits of ancestors remain visible in the family tree. However, these Sims can no longer appear in the world, be resurrected, or exist as ghosts.
Ghosts that still exist in a save file will continue to appear in the family tree, though without extended information such as traits or career details.
The family tree overhaul is one of the most substantial base game updates The Sims 4 has received in recent years. It significantly deepens dynasty gameplay, makes family relationships more consistent and logical, and unlocks new storytelling opportunities — especially when combined with The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy.
