Sims 4 and DirectX
Update
2024/05/28
Sims 4 is being upgraded to DirectX 11 (DX11) with Patch 1.107.112. At first the new version is offered as opt-in and will be become standard in a later patch.
2024/09/19
DX11 is now the new standard for Nvidia and AMD graphics cards. Please remove the -dx11 switch if you added it to your start options or to your shortcuts.
DirectX is a programming interface for games and other multimedia programs. It helps developers to program their software without having to support every single graphics card out there. They only need to support DirectX instead.
DirectX 11 or later comes as part of the operating system and doesn’t need to be installed separately.
More details can be found at Wikipedia.
Sims 4 currently supports DirectX 9c but the System Requirements list DirectX 11 as required.
The game also supports DirectX 11 since May 28th, 2024
DX11 is now standard for Nvidia and AMD graphic cards. The game automatically starts with DX11.
The game continues to run with DX9 if you have an Intel graphics chip. You can still use the method below to switch to DX9.
This method only works if you add the arguments in online mode. Command line arguments can’t be added while you’re offline. They do work if you add them in online mode and then go offline.
The command line arguments do not work if you start the game through the desktop shortcut. Please use shortcut instructions for that method.
Instructions
Start EA app and Login
Find the game in the library
Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the game and choose View Properties
Under Advanced Launch Options put the arguments and click Save
If you want to add multiple arguments, separate them with a space.
Instructions
Start Steam and login
Find the game in Library
Right-Click on the game and choose Properties
Choose General
In the field under Launch options add the command line arguments and click enter
If you want to add multiple arguments, separate them with a space.
This method only works if you start the game through a specific shortcut. They are ignored if you start the game via EA app, Origin or Steam
Instructions
Right-click on the shortcut on your desktop
Choose Properties
Add the command line arguments after the program in target (make sure to add a space after the closing quotes)
If you want to add multiple arguments, separate them with a space.
Click on OK
This method only works if you add the arguments in online mode. Command line arguments can’t be added while you’re offline. They do work if you add them in offline mode and then go offline
Instructions
Start Origin and Login
Find the Game in My Game Library
Right-Click on the game and choose Game Properties
Click on the Tab Advanced Launch Options
In the field under Command line arguments put the argument and hit save.
If you want to add multiple arguments, separate them with a space.
If you want to test out DirectX 11 you need to add -dx11 as command line argument.
You will then see in the main menu which version Sims is running with.
Maxis recommends to remove all your mods/cc to try it out as there might be visual issues with them.
You can switch the game back to DX9 in your game options. You can edit the options(.ini) file if the game doesn’t open.
Instructions
Make sure the game is closed
Navigate to your user folder in the file system and find the file Options.ini. If you have known extensions hidden you will only see the file as Options.
Right-Click on the file and choose: Open with and then Editor (you can use any text editor of your choosing).
Change the desired options
Save your changes. Make sure, Windows doesn’t add a txt as extension. The file needs to say an ini file and needs to have the corresponding icon.
Start the game.
Instructions
Look for the following entry in the file: forcedx9 =
Change the value as follows:
- forcedx9 = 0 (DX11)
- forcedx9 = 1 (DX9c)
The DirectX version used by the game shows in the lower right corner of the main menu.
The upgrade should help with better graphics quality and increase the general game experience with improved render capabilities.
The opt-in looks like a test. You can report any issues at AHQ.
The changes are still in testing and there can be issues. If you have problems with text and dialogs it’s best to return to DX9 for now.
Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try for now
- Make sure your graphics card supports DX11
- Update your graphics drivers
- Remove all Mods/CC
- Resetting the game to factory settings without reinstalling
- Intel Chips: If the game starts with DX9 despite the option, make sure you added it to the correct place and it’s still there (EA app, desktop shortcut, Steam).
- If you have files in the folder Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\ConfigOverride, remove them and redo the changes on the current game files.
- If you still can’t get it to work, post in this thread at AHQ: DirectX 11 Technical Issues and Feedback Thread. Make sure to provide the info asked in the first post.
Also see Known Issues
You can find your current DirectX Version in the DxDiag.
- Press Windows-Key + R
- Type: DxDiag
- Find the current DirectX Version in the system tab towards the bottom.
DirectX is backwards compatible so if you have DirectX 11 and higher you can try it out.
I would currently assume that the game knows if you can run DX11. Manually change back to DX9 if you run into issues.
No. Unless you run Windows on your Mac to play Sims 4 this change doesn’t affect you.
The game doesn’t start. I only see a white screen
Remove any edited versions of the file GraphicsRules.sgr in the folder Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\ConfigOverride you might have.
If you want to keep your changes, copy the current version of the file from the installation folder to the ConfigOverride folder and redo the changes.
If you downloaded a file from another user, make sure you get the newest version from their page if available. The file must be created/updated after May 29th, 2024 to be compatible for this change.
Alt-Tab doesn’t work in fullscreen mode
Known issue. Unknown cause
Texts are cut at the end
This issue should be fixed.
Photos/Paintings are black
This issue should be fixed.
