Do Unplayed Sims Have Babies in Sims 4? Unveiling the Fertility Secrets of the Digital World

Yes, unplayed Sims in The Sims 4 CAN have babies, but the mechanics are a bit more nuanced than you might think. The game’s Neighborhood Stories system, introduced in a free update, allows Sims outside of your active household to experience significant life changes, including marriage, career changes, moving, and, yes, having children. Let’s delve deeper into how this works and what factors influence the digital stork’s deliveries.

The Neighborhood Stories system is designed to make your Sim’s world feel more alive and dynamic. It’s all about creating a living, breathing world where things happen even when you aren’t directly controlling them. Without the Neighborhood Stories system the game can still “fill the world” with Sims, but they will be randomly generated and will not be attached to any pre-existing families or characters in your game. This is a contrast to previous Sims titles that often involved unplayed Sims autonomously finding partners, marrying, and having children.

Now, let’s explore the ins and outs of NPC reproduction in The Sims 4 and tackle some common questions.

Understanding Neighborhood Stories and its Influence

The main driving force behind unplayed Sims having babies is the Neighborhood Stories system. This system allows Sims who aren’t in your active household to make life decisions. They might call your active Sim for advice about these potential changes, like whether or not to try for a baby with their partner.

This system primarily relies on the following factors:

• Relationships: Sims in established relationships are more likely to consider having children.
• Household Capacity: If a household is already at its maximum capacity, they are less likely to adopt or have more children.
• Traits and Aspirations: Certain Sim traits might influence their desire to start a family. For example, a Sim with the Family-Oriented trait might be more inclined to have children.
• Your Input: When unplayed Sims call your active Sim for advice, your choices can directly influence their decisions about having children.

The impact of in-game settings

The degree to which Neighborhood Stories affects the game is somewhat controllable. Players can adjust the settings to limit how much unplayed Sims are able to influence each other.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Household-Specific Settings: You can customize the Neighborhood Stories settings for individual households. This allows you to control whether specific families are allowed to have children, adopt, or make other life changes. For example, you might want the Goth family to remain unchanged, while allowing other families to evolve.
• Global Settings: You can adjust the global settings to control how Neighborhood Stories generally affects the game. This allows you to limit all unplayed Sims or change other rules that apply to the game.

Frequently Asked Questions About Unplayed Sims and Babies

Here are 15 FAQs addressing common curiosities about unplayed Sims and their baby-making habits in The Sims 4:

1. Can NPC Sims get pregnant without my direct involvement?

Yes, with the Neighborhood Stories system, NPC Sims can decide to try for a baby without you directly initiating the action. They may call your Sim for advice, and based on your response, they might proceed with trying for a baby. If the settings allow it, NPCs can also bypass this and simply have children.

2. Do I need to be playing a specific household for NPC pregnancies to occur?

No. As long as Neighborhood Stories is enabled, NPC pregnancies can occur regardless of which household you are actively playing. The world evolves around your active Sim, regardless of your location in the game.

3. Can I disable NPC pregnancies altogether?

Yes. You can disable NPC pregnancies by adjusting the Neighborhood Stories settings. You can either do this globally (affecting all unplayed households) or on a household-by-household basis.

4. How do I manage Neighborhood Stories settings?

You can manage the Neighborhood Stories settings by clicking on a mailbox on your lot. This will bring up the Neighborhood Stories menu, where you can customize the settings to your liking.

5. Do unplayed Sims adopt children?

Yes. In addition to having biological children, unplayed Sims can also adopt children through the Neighborhood Stories system. This can add even more diversity to the Sim population.

6. What factors influence an unplayed Sim’s decision to have a baby?

Several factors influence an unplayed Sim’s decision to have a baby, including their relationship status, household size, traits, aspirations, and your advice (if they seek it).

7. Can unplayed Sims have Science Babies?

Yes, with the introduction of Science Babies in a base game update, unplayed Sims can also choose to have children via science.

8. Do unplayed Sims get married and then have babies?

Not necessarily. While marriage often precedes having children, unplayed Sims might also have children out of wedlock, depending on their traits, the game settings, and the advice you give them (if they ask).

9. Can elder Sims get other Sims pregnant?

Female Sims cannot get pregnant once they are Elders, but male Elder Sims can still impregnate adult female Sims. The realities of Sim life!

10. Can I influence the gender of unplayed Sims’ babies?

No, you cannot directly influence the gender of unplayed Sims’ babies. The gender is determined randomly by the game.

11. Do unplayed Sims experience pregnancy symptoms and moodlets?

While you won’t directly observe unplayed Sims experiencing pregnancy symptoms, the game simulates the pregnancy. You will later find that those sims now have an infant or toddler in their home.

12. Can unplayed Sims have twins or triplets?

Yes, unplayed Sims can have twins or triplets. Certain lot traits, like “On Ley Line,” can increase the chances of multiple births.

13. What happens if an unplayed Sim household reaches its maximum capacity?

If an unplayed Sim household reaches its maximum capacity, they are less likely to adopt or have more children. The game recognizes the household’s limitations and adjusts accordingly.

14. Can I see the family tree of unplayed Sims?

Yes, you can view the family tree of unplayed Sims in the Manage Households section. This allows you to track the lineage and relationships of Sims across the game world.

15. Do unplayed Sims care for their babies autonomously?

Yes. Once born, these babies are cared for autonomously. They are not neglected by any means, but players can still interact with them like normal if they so wish.

Conclusion: Embracing the Dynamic World of The Sims 4

The Neighborhood Stories system is a game-changer, adding depth and realism to The Sims 4. It’s a nod to emergent storytelling and world simulation which are aspects of gaming that are studied in detail at places such as the Games Learning Society. By adjusting the Neighborhood Stories settings, you can tailor the game to your preferences, creating a world that feels both alive and under your control. Whether you want a chaotic, baby-filled world or a more stable and predictable one, The Sims 4 offers the tools to create your ideal digital society. The world of the Sims is a complex and ever-changing one! Learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.