How do Scandals work in The Sims 4?

Updated today1 min read

Overview

Scandals are a gameplay feature introduced in The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack. As Secrets surface and Scandals break, your Sim’s choices can shape their reputation, relationships, Dynasty Prestige, and career. Whether you’re managing fallout, facing extortion, or turning controversy into opportunity, Scandals give you new ways to influence your Sim’s story.

Table of Contents

What is a Scandal?

Scandals are a new feature that come with The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack that are designed to add drama to your gameplay. A Scandal breaking (and how your Sim chooses to deal with it) can have a big impact on their relationships and career progress!Before a Scandal breaks, first there’ll be Secrets. Secrets start off as whispers and suspicions before escalating into a full-blown Scandal. Sims come across secrets in multiple ways, by asking mutual acquaintances about other Sims, rummaging through a Sim’s trash, hacking computers, or even witnessing a misdeed or getting caught doing something questionable in public. Occasionally, you’ll get a pop-up with a Secret about another Sim, with an option to believe or dismiss it. Believing the Secret makes the suspicion real and turns a Secret into a Scandal! Or, you can use the Information Broker (on the computer) to buy a secret about another Sim. 
Use the Notebook to keep track of Scandals. Find this in the bottom-left corner of Live Mode, next to the phone. Here you can check info you have on other Sims, any Scandals about your own Sim, and plot who to Extort. 

Extortion

Sims can have Scandals revealed about them, or choose to reveal a Scandal about another Sim. Do this using the phone or computer, as Noble Sim, you can also host a press conference.Alternatively, a Scandal can be used for Extortion, and Sims can demand favours to keep quiet. Your Sim can be Extorted, or can Extort another Sim, depending on what secrets they know about them.Some of what Extorters can demand:
  • Simoleons
  • Noble Titles
  • Provide Noble/Commoner favor
  • Break an Alliance or call a truce with Rivals
  • Brand Dynasty Members as an Outcast
  • Extort a Dynasty Head to step down, or make your Sim the Dynasty Heir 
Your Sim can either comply with the Extortionist’s requests or choose to deal with the Scandal being revealed. 
Extortion from NPC (non-active) Sims can be turned off. To do this:
  1. 1
    Open the Options menu (the three dots in the top right of the screen).
  2. 2
    Select Game Options.
  3. 3
    Open Pack Settings.
  4. 4
    Tick or untick the box beside Allow Extortion on Active Sim.
  5. 5
    Select Apply Changes to save these changes. 

Consequences of Scandals 

There are many types of Scandals, each with different consequences for your Sim. For example, getting caught WooHooing a hired staff person like a Maid, Bartender, or Chef has a minor impact on your Sim. But a Scandal like Social Services taking a child or having a Secret Lover relationship with another Sim can have bigger repercussions when discovered by someone outside their Household. These repercussions can be things like:
  • Sims involved in a Scandal will have a Scandal cloud surrounding them
  • Less success with romantic interactions
  • More difficult to build friendships 
  • Loss of career progress (including a Sim’s Noble career) 
  • Sims can gain Fame if you own The Sims 4 Get Famous Expansion Pack
Other Sims can shun, mock, or comfort a Sim caught up in a Scandal. 

How to manage a Scandal

If a Scandal is revealed about your Sim, they can choose to address it. 
  • Using the phone or computer, they can post an apology or a denial.
  • If your Sim is a Noble, they can apologize or deny the Scandal at a Press Conference.
  • Sims can also embrace a Scandal and earn some Simoleons:
Need more help with The Sims 4 Royalty & Legacy Expansion Pack? Check out some of our other gameplay guides.
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