While previous editions of “The Sims” have featured character customization restrictions based on gender, users have unofficially modified the PC game over the years to remove such barriers. The studio said in a statement it wanted to “make sure players can create characters they can identify with or relate to through powerful tools that give them influence over a Sims’ gender, age, ethnicity, body type and more.”

“The Sims 4” and earlier installments of the 16-year-old series previously restricted specific clothing, hair styles and other aesthetic options to either male or female characters.ĮA and Maxis said over 700 pieces of content previously available to only male or female Sims will now be accessible regardless of gender in “The Sims 4” and its various expansion packs.