The latest base-game update reduces repeated Marketplace downloads and expands Create a Sim with free clothes, starter Sims and a new hairstyle.
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Marketplace images now stay on the device
The new image cache changes what happens after a player opens the Marketplace. Before the update, preview images were downloaded again during later visits. The game now keeps images after the first download and only retrieves files that are new or have changed. This should shorten repeat visits and reduce unnecessary network use when a player browses the same packs.
The cache has a limit of 250 MB, although normal use may remain below that figure. Files that have not been needed for 14 days after the latest Marketplace visit are removed automatically. The system therefore has a clear ceiling and its own cleanup rule. Players do not need to search for old thumbnails and delete them one by one.
A manual reset remains available
If previews become blank or show the wrong image, players can clear the cache through the cheat console with the command clearonlinethumbnailcache true. On PC and Mac, the folder can also be viewed under Documents, Electronic Arts, The Sims 4 and onlinethumbnailcache. Console players do not manage those files directly, but the same automatic system works in the background.
Clearing the cache should be a troubleshooting step, not a routine task. The first Marketplace visit after a reset will need to download the images again. A slow first load is therefore expected. The benefit should appear on later visits, when unchanged previews can be read from local storage.
Create a Sim receives free clothing
The base-game drop adds six Create a Sim items designed to work across different body shapes. The group includes a dress, tops, jeans, cardigans, shirts and slacks. Five styled looks combine the new pieces into ready-made outfits. Because these assets are part of the base-game update, they do not require one of the two separate fashion kits released later in the week.
Five starter Sims were also created to present the clothes in use. They appear in Create a Sim and can be found in the Gallery. This gives players a direct example of each look and a set of characters that can be placed into an existing save. The update treats representation as usable game content rather than a static promotional image.
A sculpted hairstyle broadens the free selection
A new afro-textured hairstyle joins the base game. Its shape is inspired by natural-hair sculpting and is intended to work as a strong visual feature rather than a minor variation of an existing cut. Hair has a large effect on a Sim’s silhouette, so a distinct free option can be useful even for players who do not plan to buy new packs.
The hairstyle and clothing arrive in the same update as technical changes, but they solve a different need. The cache affects repeated browsing. The Create a Sim additions affect what players can build after browsing. Keeping those parts separate makes the update easier to understand and prevents the free items from being confused with paid capsule kits.
Two licensed capsule kits are separate purchases
The Mean Girls Capsule Kit and the Clueless Capsule Kit became available on August 27. They focus on Y2K and 1990s fashion associated with the two films. These kits are paid products and are not included automatically with the six free clothing assets. Players who only install the base-game update still receive the performance cache, free styles, starter Sims and hairstyle.
