‘The Sims’ To Allow Players To Break Gender Barriers, Adds More Flexible Choices To Express Self

"The Sims" has come up with an interesting feature ever in the history of gaming. Now the players are free to customize the characters in the game, choose any outfit or accessory for their character regardless of their gender.

Electronic Arts and developer Maxis made an announcement on the new feature on Thursday. The update not only allows the players to choose their desired outfit and accessories but also to customize the expression, voice nature, walking style and even the make-over of the character, noted NBC.

It is reported that the update was in works for over a year, which involved the modification of the gender specific contents including the hairstyles, clothing, walking-style animation and so on. "The Sims" has tried the new feature for the first time in the gaming history in order to break the gender boundaries that restrict the players from being creative.

"For the first time, you'll be able to customize your Sims without the gender boundaries previously set in place," the developer said, according to The Verge.The players can now give a short cut and tux to a female Sims and female voice and accessories to male Sims and so on.

"The update gives players more ways to reflect the world around them, or in their imaginations, creating the Sims and the stories they want," says lead producer Lyndsay Pearson. The new update will not only feature in the base game but also in the plethora of expansions and add-ons.

The new feature is expected to have a social impact other than entertaining players with variety of options. The game developers are said to have discussed with lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual advocacy for the update and came up with the idea of removing gender symbol in the game's gallery. "The Sims" 4 launched in September 2014 and two other major expansion packs with exhibit the new update.

"Creating the possibility for greater gender diversity within the world of 'The Sims' is an exciting development," said Nick Adams, director of GLAAD's transgender media program, reported The Big Story. "It was a pleasure working with developers who were committed to updating the game so that all players can create a Sims world that more accurately reflects the world in which we live today."