The Sims 4's next expansion looks perfect for all your reality TV show fantasies

You know, I’m surprised that EA has never made a Sims reality show where contestants have to act out odd, Simish challenges on a Truman Show-esque production lot, given how much the games themselves feel like simulators for the trashiest (said lovingly) TV show genre. In the meantime, while it isn’t at all themed reality shows, The Sims 4’s next expansion, Royalty & Legacy, seems like a perfect fit for a fictitious one of your own making.

A new gameplay trailer showed off how the packs dynasty system works, which is very much about family values. Starting your own dynasty begins with things like choosing your family crest, those aforementioned values, and the family members (or otherwise) you want included. There’s also a prestige and unity meter, which can be affected in different ways, like, say, stabbing a mannequin, or getting a promotion because you’re a nepo baby.

Your Sims also have personal ranks, and lowering the prestige and unity meter may also lower their rank, and another member could challenge your leadership. And then you can just start a new one, so who gives a hoot! There’s even some conspiracy nonsense, affairs, scandals to take advantage of, can you see why I think this is ripe for a reality TV show scenario? That’ll be up to you to figure out though.

Alongside all of that, there’s three new neighborhoods to shape to your will, each of which is already ruled by a pre-established dynasty. Sims can now perform powershifts, which “add fantasy, storybook twists to your royal tale,” according to a blog post about the expansion pack, where they might pull the sword in the stone, or flirt with a fancy frog. Said blog post goes into a lot more detail about what you can expect, so head there for more.

You’ve not got long to wait for the new expansion pack, as it’s currently slated for release on February 12th, just under a couple of weeks away.