The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy release — your complete guide to the new expansion
Today, February 12, 2026, the highly anticipated expansion The Sims 4: Royalty & Legacy officially launches. Players are about to enter a world filled with royal intrigue, grand palace balls, and powerful aristocratic dynasties, alongside hundreds of new Build & Buy and CAS items and gameplay systems designed to support rich, dramatic, multi-generational storytelling.
With the release of the DLC, players will be able to explore Ondarion, pursue the Aristocrat career, manage their family’s prestige, engage in political intrigue, and design lavish interiors and noble fashion looks. Ahead of launch, we’ve gathered all previously released information and compiled a complete overview of the expansion’s key features, with links to our in-depth coverage.
Official Trailer Breakdown
Our first look at the expansion came through the official trailer, which introduced the atmosphere and narrative themes of Ondarion. The trailer showcased palace interiors, grand balls, and even duels between rival dynasties.
Developers placed strong emphasis on family conflict, inheritance, prestige, and the new construction and customization options. The trailer offers a clear sense of how Sims will interact within this hierarchical society — and how players can shape their characters’ destinies.
New Kits Released Alongside the Expansion
Two new Kits are launching alongside the expansion, giving players additional tools to diversify both home design and Sim creation.
One Kit focuses on decorative objects and furniture designed to enhance a regal, palace-inspired atmosphere. The other introduces new outfits and accessories suitable for high-society events as well as everyday noble life. You can find a full breakdown of these Kits in our dedicated article.
The World of Ondarion in Royalty & Legacy
At the heart of the expansion lies the new world of Ondarion, divided into three distinct districts ruled by influential dynasties. Each neighborhood features unique architecture, cultural influences, and social dynamics.
Player interactions with ruling families directly affect prestige and social standing. From palace halls to ornate city streets and dedicated event venues, Ondarion is designed as a living political landscape where decisions carry long-term consequences for your Sims.
The Nobility Career
One of the expansion’s core gameplay additions is the Nobility Career. Sims can participate in politics, manage their family’s prestige, engage in intrigue, and complete unique objectives that shape their social standing.
The career spans multiple levels — from an ambitious newcomer seeking recognition to a powerful aristocrat influencing the fate of the entire city. This profession adds depth to gameplay and opens new pathways for storytelling centered around legacy and power.
New Characters and Dynasties
Royalty & Legacy introduces a wide array of new Sims, each with their own ambitions, personalities, and backstories. Through the new dynasty system, players can navigate family conflicts, blackmail, alliances, and rivalries.
Each dynasty possesses unique traits and values. Players can manage heirs, form strategic alliances, and determine who will rise — or fall — within the family hierarchy. This layered system encourages dramatic storytelling driven by player choice.
The Dynasty System
The dynasty system serves as the foundation of the expansion. It tracks lineage, inheritance, prestige influence, and how individual actions affect the family as a whole.
Players can appoint heirs, exile members, and observe how their lineage evolves across generations. Because the system integrates with careers and events, a single Sim’s decisions may impact the entire dynasty. Developers previously held a Q&A session addressing this system in detail, which we covered separately.
Over 450 New CAS and Build Items
Royalty & Legacy adds more than 450 new items across Create-a-Sim and Build Mode. These include aristocratic fashion, decorative objects, furniture, and architectural elements suited for castles and palaces.
Players can experiment with regal aesthetics, host grand social events, and incorporate new objects directly into narrative gameplay. The items are carefully designed to support the expansion’s themes of nobility, prestige, and legacy.
The Lore of Ondarion
Beyond mechanics, the expansion delivers a rich narrative backdrop. Ondarion is steeped in culture, tradition, and political tension.
Princess Cordelia, for example, hides her true identity to maintain power, while rival dynasties vie for control of the throne. Magical artifacts — including an enchanted mirror and a crystal slipper — introduce dramatic twists, and player choices ultimately determine each family’s fate.
The lore system intertwines with scandals and secrets. Sims can uncover hidden truths, expose rivals, and manipulate public perception. Noble titles — from Knight to King — are hereditary and directly affect social status. Whether your Sim’s journey leads to exile or coronation depends entirely on your decisions.
Expanded Family Trees
The expansion introduces enhanced family trees that reflect inheritance lines, dynasty influence, and generational progression.
Players can trace lineage across generations, assign heirs, disinherit relatives, and monitor how one Sim’s actions ripple throughout the entire family network. This system acts as a key tool for managing dynasties and building complex, multi-generational narratives.
New Dishes and Culinary Additions
Royalty & Legacy also brings culturally inspired recipes into the game. From hearty soups to refined main courses and elegant desserts, the new dishes can be served at everyday meals or royal banquets alike.
These recipes were developed in collaboration with popular creators IceMunMun and Littlbowbub, who infused them with cultural context and world-building depth. In this expansion, food goes beyond fulfilling hunger — it enhances storytelling, reflects family traditions, and enriches social gatherings.
The wait is over. As of today, players can step into Ondarion, compete for the throne, establish their own dynasties, and explore the expansion’s new systems firsthand.
While this update is not expected to significantly impact most mods, it’s always best to proceed cautiously. We’ve already published a separate guide on how to safely update your game and protect your save files. Make your backups — and get ready to build your kingdom.
