The latest Sims 4 patch has introduced some items to celebrate the game's fifth birthday. We’ve received patio furniture with funky swatches, as well as some Muslim-inspired clothing, including a hijab and modest swimwear.

While these are both great things, the feature that has really got the Sims community excited is the introduction of customizable stairs. Though this sounds like a small thing, it’s actually the addition thing to come to the game since the introduction of terrain tools.

Stair Options In The Sims Franchise

via yahoo.com

After The Sims 4 turns five years old, it will be the longest-running title in the franchise. Currently, this record is held by The Sims 3, which was out for five years and three months before The Sims 4 was released. This means that The Sims 4 also holds the dubious record of being the game that has made us wait the longest time for customizable stairs.

While The Sims originally had limited stairs, we only got a wider selection later on. Superstar gave us some spiral stairs and Makin Magic introduced a sweeping staircase, which curved into a 90-degree angle. This meant that we had a few stair options once The Sims hit the three-year mark.

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In The Sims 2, players were given modular stairs, which was an improvement. Then, later, Apartment Life also added another spiral stair option. Meanwhile, The Sims 3 gave us spiral stairs in the Generations expansion.

So far in The Sims 4, we’ve had no new options at all - not even a proper elevator or new way of reaching various levels in our houses. Luckily, that has now changed.

Removing The Limits For Tiny Homes

via youtube.com (James Turner)

The main reason why the introduction of new stairs in The Sims 4 is so important is due to the sheer range of options that it provides players, especially when it comes to building tiny houses or establishments.

Previously, staircases had to be straight, which meant that houses were limited and had to contain a 5 x 1 area in order to fit the basic stairs. This meant that all buildings with more than one floor had to have either a long corridor, larger footprint, or an outdoor staircase. Now, stairs can fit into small squares, which opens up the options of building smaller houses.

This has already led to some great creations from Sims builders in the game's community. For example, player James Turner was quick to produce a witches' tower in preparation for the newly released Realm of Magic game pack.

Increasing Realism

via newsweek.com

Besides now allowing players to create tiny builds, there are also a number of things players can now do with the stairs.

Many people love to create themselves in the game, known as making a Simself. This can include recreating their houses as well as friends and family. Having more options for stairs gives players the opportunity to make more realistic replicas of their homes. For example, my house has a staircase that isn't straight and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Stairs that bend in different directions are common and therefore the ability to recreate them in the game adds an extra degree of realism.

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Any addition to The Sims 4 that gives players more flexibility and allows them to be even more creative is a great inclusion, and these new stairs are no exception. They give us different options and new aesthetics to play with, which allows players to make more creative buildings.

Adding Some Quirkiness

While some players love realism, others thrive on surrealism and the occult. Thankfully, these stairs appeal to them as well.

The sky’s the limit now, as players can now experiment with heights and corners in order to recreate some crazy looking staircases. If you want to build an M.C. Escher-inspired stairwell or something resembling Grand Staircase in Hogwarts, it's now possible.

Creativity is how the game thrives, so creating more options helps to keep the game relevant and allows builders to produce more realistic (or wilder) buildings.

The Waiting Game

So far, The Sims 4 players have spent a long time waiting for more options when it came to building. Players also had to wait a while for the introduction of terrain manipulation. In fact, many building tools appeared after release, including extra levels above and below ground, dual height foundations, and even pools.

Builders were so desperate for more options that they even began to find workarounds, such as player Kate Emerald’s use of foundations in order to create a staircase, which resembles what we have now.

Now The Sims 4 players have more options than ever before when it comes to building. For those who cannot see the potential of the new stairs, we'd suggest checking out the gallery. You’ll likely see more and more creative and talented players using stairs to design and build a range of stunning builds.

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