Though likely unintentional, Virgil thought the way dark skin was represented in The Sims 4 didn’t live up to the game’s ethos. It was one of the first games to feature homosexual relationships and more recent updates focus on everything from inclusive pronouns to adding items from cultures all over the world.
The Sims 4 has a reputation for being a game that allows players to express their most authentic selves whoever they are and wherever they’re from. “We always like to make jokes about how sims look ashy as hell all the time,” Virgil said. “Where’s the undertones? Where is the contrast? Where’s the vibrance?”Īccording to Virgil, The Sims 4 has a problem with “ashiness,” wherein a Black sim’s skin appears so washed out or gray that it looks afflicted with dry skin or “ash.” It’s a problem that’s aggrieved Black and brown Sims creators (known as Simmers) for a long time.
