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The Sims 4's 'scandalous' Royalty & Legacy expansion gets trailer and release date

The first Sims 4 expansion of 2026 has been unveiled with a trailer and release date, and your Sims will be able to become royalty. Set for 12 February, The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy comes with features such as dynasty and nobility systems and scandals.

The trailer (which can be viewed above) showcases the new gameplay coming in the pack, as well as the new world of Ondarion.

Ondarion is split into three neighbourhoods, each representing a different region. Dambele has a "culture of generosity and togetherness" and celebrates arts, Verdemar is "populated by heroic outlaws and cunning nobles", and Bellacorde is sort of reminiscent of Bridgerton - described as a region "defined by romance, opulence, and candlelit corners that invite illicit rendezvous".

The trailer shows off one such scandal in Bellacorde, with a maid catching a noble having an affair. The maid chooses to leak the affair, leading to the noble to take a hit in relationships and dynasty prestige.

The blog post detailing the expansion's features teases that Sims can also use scandals to "extort rivals, fracture alliances, and climb the social ladder", while Sims who are caught up in the scandal and exposed can respond by releasing a public apology, denying the accusation in a statement, or "even write a book about it and earn profits".

Elsewhere, Sims can embark on the Noble career, rising from a newcomer to a kingdom leader. There are a variety of ways to advance in nobility, including through alliances, court favour, scheming, and strategic marriages. There is also choice on how a ruler leads a kingdom - whether it's by relying on donations, keeping the nobles happy, or making decisions to earn favour among commoners.

The dynasty system offers ways to flesh out a Sim's dynasty and their house's identity. This includes setting the dynasty's values, appointing heirs, and expelling or designating someone as an outcast.

Other features include royal duties, duels and swordsmanship tournaments (there's also a Swordsmanship skill), secret passageways that let Sims teleport between two connected passageways, ballroom dances, and an enchanted mirror.

The expansion's release comes amid backlash over EA being acquired by Saudi Arabia's PIF, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners for around $55 billion. The Sims as a franchise is known for its inclusivity, and in October, numerous content creators quit the EA Creator Network over concerns regarding the sale.

Earlier this month, developer Maxis appeared to address the controversy by stating that its approach will not change.

"Our Sims team's creative control, guided by our values of inclusivity, choice, creativity, community, and play, has not changed. These values inspire the decisions we make each and every day as we plan for today, tomorrow, and the future," the team wrote in a blog post.

The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy is out on 12 February on PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox.

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