The Sims 4’s High School Years expansion affects more than just teenagers

It’s time to relive those best (or worst) four years of your life. The Sims 4’s High School YearsThe expansion pack contains a variety of content that teens will find relatable. It includes special posters, room decorations and graduation ceremonies. But alongside the triumphs and defeats, the epic highs and lows of high school classes, clubs, and football, there’s an exciting set of customizations and changes to agency that will affect Sims of all ages and life stages.

It Year of High School Copperdale High is now available as an expansion pack. This allows any Sim to attend school. The pack is similar to the game’s well-received Discover University expansion — and high school grades will dictate where Sims get into college, with an option for Sims to study online for their GED.

Polygon was present at the Electronic Arts Presentation of the Year of High SchoolDevelopers discussed expansion packs Year of High SchoolA free update will also be available along with the expansion pack.

Sims at Copperdale attend classes as well as extracurriculars. This means they can roam the campus, study for exams, cheer practice, and go to class. But they can also pull pranks or skip class — though if the principal catches them, they’ll get in big trouble. Teen Sims have the option to decorate their bedroom and spend time scrolling through social media. For a bit of curfew, teens Sims can now leave their homes via the windows. As for hangout spots, there’s Thrifty, a thrift store and boba tea spot. Sims also have the opportunity to form their first relationships and visit the fair with their crush to find their path to true love.

You will find small improvements to Sim social interaction that make a huge impact on your game. For instance, players can now set their Sims’ sexuality and attraction to other Sims. Players can now create aromantic, asexual and other queer Sims using the modular selection of options. Maxis the creator of Sims allowed Sims to pick their pronouns. The update continues that trend and offers more inclusive options.

There are other changes to a Sim’s daily life that look promising as well. All Sims can have different degrees of arm, chest and leg hair. This is an excellent addition to customizing.

Others Sims will be able to have greater autonomy with their relationships. Sims now have the ability to identify each other as crushes and Sims in other houses can begin romance with Sims that are controlled by players. Sims romance is usually about finding the right person and actively following them.

Sims can also chase wants and fears. These are more immediate goals. Itre’s even a new trait for the socially awkward. While all of these free changes are relatable to the average teen — body hair, crushes, and social fears are definitely par for the course — they all apply to Sims of all life stages.

The Year of High SchoolThe expansion pack and the free update launch on Windows PCs, PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One on July 28.