Breaking down the details about The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack!
Okay, so we finally got a full look at The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack, and I have to say, it looks pretty awesome. Whether your Sims want to start their own little shop, dive into some new creative skills, or just enjoy the artsy vibes of the new world, there's a lot to get excited about. Let's go over the highlights!
🎨 Master Two New Skills!
Pottery Skill – Time to get your hands dirty. Sims can make all kinds of ceramics, from tea sets to plant pots to incense burners. There's even Kintsugi, a way to repair broken pottery with gold for an extra cool look. Finished pieces can be sold, gifted, or just used to decorate.
Tattooing Skill – Sims can finally give tattoos! Pick from pre-made designs, create a custom piece, or even dedicate one to another Sim. And yes, custom tattoos can be shared in the Gallery! Plus, tattoo layering is finally a thing, so no more being stuck with just one design per spot.
Quick look at the tattoo creation system. You’ll be able to draw your own tattoos using the drawing tool developed for the Cats & Dogs expansion pack:
🧑🏫 Become a mentor!
As Sims advance in their skills, they too can become mentors and pass on their knowledge. Sims can also build their legacy by teaching others in Classes and Lectures. Listening to a Lecture is one of the ways a Sim may earn Mastery Perks – this experience rewards Sims who become highly talented in their selected skills.
🤔 New Traits and Aspiration
Two new traits shake up how Sims interact with the world and their businesses:
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Idealist Sims have high standards and strive to create a better world through their actions. They want to inspire others and lead by example.
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Shady Sims are opportunists who bend the rules to get ahead. They’re skilled at turning situations in their favor, even if it means cutting corners.
New Aspirations:
- Esteemed Entrepreneur focuses on business success and relationships, rewarding the Beloved Brand trait (boosts customer satisfaction and relationships).
- Master Mentor emphasizes teaching others, rewarding the Motivating trait (allows giving speeches that boost skills and mood).
🏠 Turn Your Hobby into a Business
Now Sims can actually make money doing what they love! There are two ways to set up shop:
✔️ Residential Small Business Lot – Perfect if your Sim wants to work from home.
✔️ Small Business Venue Lot – Go all in and open a proper storefront.
The new Ticket Kiosk lets you decide how to charge customers, whether it’s a one-time fee or hourly rates. You can keep it in the family by hiring your Sim’s household (which sounds like a recipe for drama) or bring in outside help.
And as your business grows, you’ll get Business Perks, which add extra interactions and effects.
Here’s a quick preview of the multi-purpose lot system. It works a lot like the apartment system in For Rent. What are your thoughts?
🏘️ Say Hello to Nordhaven
This new place is packed with creative vibes. It’s got two neighborhoods:
✨ Gammelvik – Cozy, artsy, and full of inspiration.
✨ Iverstad – A lively creative hub where Sims can meet and share ideas.
There are Hobby Meetups where Sims can connect with others who love the same stuff. And if they get really good at their craft, they can even teach classes and give lectures to help others (and earn some nice perks along the way).
💡 What Kind of Business Owner Are You?
Your Sim’s choices actually affect more than just their shop. There’s a new Alignment System that changes how they do business:
💭 Dreamer – Runs an honest, feel-good shop.
🃏 Schemer – Takes shortcuts and plays the system.
⚖️ Neutral – Just focused on making Simoleons.
Whatever you pick will carry over into your Sim’s life outside work too. So yeah, choices matter!
💼 So Many Business Ideas!
If you’ve got other Sims packs, you can mix them in to create even more businesses:
🐶 Pet Cafés (Cats & Dogs) – Perfect for Sims who love their four-legged friends.
🎮 Arcades & Dance Clubs (Get Together) – For night owls who want to keep the party going.
🎤 Karaoke Bars (City Living) – Belt out Simlish tunes all night long!
🎭 Acting Schools (Get Famous) – Teach the next big celebrity how to shine.
🛁 Spas & Wellness Centers (Spa Day) – Offer massages, facials, and yoga retreats.
🧺 Laundromats (Laundry Day) – Let Sims wash their clothes while you rake in the Simoleons.
🎳 Bowling Alleys (Bowling Night) – Strike or spare, it’s always a good time!
🍭 Candy Shops – Sell sweets, baked goods, and treats to satisfy every sweet tooth.
Pretty much any hobby or skill can be turned into a shop, so there’s a lot of room to play around.
🍭 Candy Shops!
Although the official descriptions for this pack don’t mention anything in detail about making and selling sweets, we can see in the trailer and pictures that it will be possible. Maybe it’s not an actual skill but rather an object like the waffle maker, popcorn machine, or ice cream maker.
🧑🏫 Ticket Kiosk
The new Ticket Kiosk offers Sims the freedom to run their business on their terms, with options to charge customers either one time or hourly. You get to make the challenging, but exciting, choice of either running a family business (imagine the drama!) and hiring your entire Sim’s household, or meeting the perfect candidates and offering them a job. The options are endless with the new Small Business system.
🎁 Bonus Items for Early Buyers!
If you grab The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack before April 18, you’ll get three bonus items:
🗿 Practice Makes Perfect Priscilla Statue – A tribute to body art and sculpture.
🍭 Sweetest Treat Display Case – Perfect for bakeries or candy shops.
💡 Beautiful Flaws Lamp – A cool decorative piece for any space.
🎬 Watch the Reveal Trailer!
🛒 Preorder Now and Support me!
The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack launches on March 6, 2025 for EA app™, Epic Games Store, Steam®, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
If you're planning to buy, consider using my creator code SIXAMCC at checkout to support my content! It’s a great way to help me keep creating Sims content for the community. 💙
What kind of business are you opening first? Let’s chat in the comments! 👇