The Sims 4 cloud gaming:
why Shadow PC is a good PC for it

Does The Sims 4 run on Shadow PC? Yes. Shadow PC is a full Windows PC in the cloud with an NVIDIA RTX graphics card: you install the PC version from the EA app or Steam, with your packs, your mods and your CC, and play from the screen you already own.

See the Shadow PC offers Check your device

One of the most played games on Shadow PCSee the ranking

Every pack
21 expansion packs, plus game packs, stuff packs and kits, on an SSD you can expand up to 5 TB.
Mods, CC and ReShade
The Windows version of the game, so everything installs like on any PC.
An NVIDIA RTX graphics card
For big lots and full CC folders, without a gaming PC at home.
On every screen
PC, Mac, iPad, Android, Chromebook or a Chrome tab. Your save is waiting on each.

Your mods and CC, like on any PC

Most cloud gaming services stream the games in their own catalog, often a console version that takes no mods. Shadow PC gives you a whole Windows PC: the Mods folder, the Tray folder and the game's Bin folder are where they always are.

A furnished lot in The Sims 4 Build mode

Custom content

Hair, clothes, furniture, build items: .package files dropped into your Mods folder.

Create a Sim
Build mode
Tray lots

Script mods

.ts4script files that change how the game plays. Update them after each game patch.

MC Command Center
UI Cheats Extension
Better BuildBuy

Sims and a robot in a colorful lab in The Sims 4

ReShade

Presets that change light and color across the whole game. ReShade only runs on the Windows version.

Presets
Depth of field
Screenshots

1In Game Options, then Other, tick custom content and script mods
2Download your mods in a browser on your Shadow PC
3Drop them in Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods and relaunch

The Sims 4 on your device, with and without Shadow PC

What runs once Shadow PC does the work, and what runs on each device today without it.

The Sims 4 on a laptop, a Mac, an iPad, a Chromebook and a gaming PC, with and without Shadow PC
Device	The game	Mods and CC	ReShade	Every pack	Learn more
Any device + Shadow PCThe PC version, streamed from the cloud	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	See the offers
A laptopRuns on EA's minimum spec, slows down with big saves	Limited	Limited	Limited	Limited	See the offers
A MacNative version, but no ReShade	Yes	Yes	No	Limited	The Sims 4 on Mac
An iPadNo iPad version of the game	No	No	No	No	The Sims 4 on iPad
A ChromebookNo ChromeOS version of the game	No	No	No	No	The Sims 4 on Chromebook
A gaming PCRuns it all, at your desk	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Play on your other screens

Works
With limits
Not possible

Playing on a Mac, an iPad or a Chromebook? Start here

Two step-by-step pages for the devices where The Sims 4 is missing something, or missing altogether.

Mac

The Sims 4 on Mac

The Mac version runs the game, but not ReShade, and every pack fills your drive. How to play the Windows version from your Mac, with your packs and your CC.

ReShade on Mac
Your Mac saves and packs
Xbox Cloud Gaming or Shadow PC

Read the Mac guide

iPad and Chromebook

The Sims 4 on an iPad and a phone with Shadow PC

The Sims 4 on iPad and Chromebook

There is no Sims 4 on iPad or ChromeOS. How to play the PC version on your tablet or Chromebook, with the mods simmers use most.

The most used mods
Touch or mouse
Chromebook setup

Read the iPad and Chromebook guide

The Sims 4 in short, and its 21 expansion packs

The Sims 4 is a life simulation game made by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It came out on PC in September 2014, then on Mac, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and the base game has been free since October 2022. You create Sims, build their homes and run their lives. Twenty-one expansion packs have added careers, pets, seasons, universities and whole new worlds, and every one you own installs on your Shadow PC.

DeveloperMaxis
PublisherElectronic Arts
ReleasedSeptember 2014 on PC
Base gameFree since October 2022
PlatformsPC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox
Expansion packs21, plus game packs, stuff packs and kits

The 21 expansion packs, year by year

2026
1 expansion pack
- Royalty & LegacyFebruaryNoble ranks, lineages and sword duels
Latest
2025
3 expansion packs
- Adventure AwaitsOctoberGetaways, imaginary friends and bug collecting
- Enchanted by NatureJulyFairies and nature skills in Innisgreen
- Businesses & HobbiesMarchTurn a hobby into a small business
2024
2 expansion packs
- Life & DeathOctoberGhosts, bucket lists and the Grim Reaper career
- LovestruckJulyDating, attraction and romance
2023
3 expansion packs
- For RentDecemberBecome a landlord and rent out units
- Horse RanchJulyHorses and your own ranch
- Growing TogetherMarchFamily dynamics and life milestones
2022
1 expansion pack
- High School YearsJulyTeens go to high school
2021
1 expansion pack
- Cottage LivingJulyFarm animals and country life
2020
2 expansion packs
- Snowy EscapeNovemberSkiing and climbing in Mt. Komorebi
- Eco LifestyleJuneEco footprint and neighborhood projects
2019
2 expansion packs
- Discover UniversityNovemberDegrees and campus life
- Island LivingJuneIsland life in Sulani, with mermaids
2018
2 expansion packs
- Get FamousNovemberFame and an acting career
- SeasonsJuneWeather, seasons and holidays
2017
1 expansion pack
- Cats & DogsNovemberPets and your own vet clinic
2016
1 expansion pack
- City LivingNovemberCity apartments and festivals in San Myshuno
2015
2 expansion packs
- Get TogetherDecemberClubs and the town of Windenburg
- Get to WorkMarchActive careers, your own shop and aliens

Game packs, stuff packs, kits and Marketplace content, sold in game since March 2026, come with your EA account too.

The Sims 4 system requirements, next to Shadow PC

EA publishes two configurations for the base game on PC. Packs, CC and script mods add to them, on storage first.

The Sims 4 system requirements on PC, EA minimum and recommended, next to Shadow PC
System requirements	EA minimum	EA recommended	Shadow PC
System	Windows 10, 64-bit	Windows 10, 64-bit	Windows 11
Processor	Intel Core i3-3220 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200	Intel Core i5 (4 cores) or AMD Ryzen 5	Runs in the cloud, nothing to upgrade
Memory	4 GB	8 GB	Up to 28 GB on Power offers
Graphics	128 MB of video memory, DirectX 11	NVIDIA GTX 650 or AMD Radeon HD 7750, 1 GB	Dedicated NVIDIA RTX, up to 20 GB on Power offers
Storage	25 GB, plus 1 GB for CC and saves	50 GB, plus 1 GB for CC and saves	256 or 512 GB SSD, up to 5 TB
Your own device	Runs the game	Runs the game	Just displays the stream: a 15 Mbit/s connection is enough

Requirements published by EA for the PC version of the base game.

A Shadow PC for every kind of Simmer

A few evenings a week? Shadow PC Lite gives you 120 hours a month, sessions of up to 4 hours and 256 GB of storage. Long legacy challenges every day? Shadow PC gives you 210 hours a month, 6-hour sessions and 512 GB. Every offer comes with an NVIDIA RTX graphics card, storage you can expand up to 5 TB, and no commitment.

FAQ

Does The Sims 4 work on Shadow PC?

Yes. Shadow PC is a complete Windows PC in the cloud, so you install The Sims 4 from the EA app or Steam like on any PC and sign in with your EA account. The base game, expansion packs, game packs, stuff packs, kits, custom content and script mods all run on it, and you play from a PC, a Mac, an iPad, an Android device or a Chromebook.

What are The Sims 4 system requirements?

For the base game on PC, EA asks for at least an Intel Core i3-3220 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 4 GB of RAM, 128 MB of video memory with DirectX 11 and 25 GB of free space. EA recommends an Intel Core i5 with 4 cores or AMD Ryzen 5, 8 GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GTX 650 or AMD Radeon HD 7750 with 1 GB, and 50 GB of free space. Packs and CC add to the storage. On Shadow PC, the game runs on a dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics card, and your own device only displays the stream.

Is The Sims 4 free to play?

The base game, yes. EA made The Sims 4 free in October 2022, on the EA app and Steam. Expansion packs, game packs, stuff packs and Marketplace items are paid. On Shadow PC, you sign in with your EA account and download the game like on any PC.

Can I play The Sims 4 with cloud gaming?

Yes, in two ways. Xbox Cloud Gaming streams the Xbox version with an Xbox Game Pass plan that includes cloud gaming, without custom content or script mods. Shadow PC gives you a whole Windows PC in the cloud, so you play the PC version with your EA account, your packs, your mods and your CC, from a PC, a Mac, a tablet or a Chromebook.

Can I play every Sims 4 expansion pack on Shadow PC?

Yes. The 21 expansion packs, from Get to Work to Royalty & Legacy, and the game packs, stuff packs and kits are tied to your EA account. Sign in to the EA app on your Shadow PC and download the ones you own. They install on the SSD of your Shadow PC, which you can expand up to 5 TB.

How do I install Sims 4 mods on Shadow PC?

Like on any Windows PC. Launch The Sims 4 on your Shadow PC, open Game Options, then Other, tick Enable Custom Content and Mods and Script Mods Allowed, and restart the game. Then put your .package and .ts4script files in Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Mods, and your lots and rooms in the Tray folder. After each game update, check your script mods before you load your save.

How much storage do I need for all The Sims 4 packs?

More than the base game. EA recommends 50 GB of free space for The Sims 4 alone, and each pack adds to it. With 21 expansion packs, the other packs and a large CC folder, plan for much more. Shadow PC comes with 512 GB of SSD and Shadow PC Lite with 256 GB, and storage can be expanded up to 5 TB on every offer.

Can I play The Sims 4 on a low-end laptop?

The base game runs on modest hardware, but a big save with many packs and CC files asks for more. With Shadow PC, The Sims 4 runs on a PC in the cloud with an NVIDIA RTX graphics card, and your laptop only displays the stream. You need a stable connection: 15 Mbit/s at least.

Can I play The Sims 4 on an iPad or a Chromebook?

Not natively: The Sims 4 isn't available on iPad or Chromebook. With Shadow PC, the PC version runs in the cloud and you play it through the Shadow app on iPad, on a Chromebook, or in Chrome at pc.shadow.tech. Our page on The Sims 4 on iPad and Chromebook explains how.

Which Shadow PC should I pick for The Sims 4?

The Sims 4 is a light game, so every Shadow PC runs it. Shadow PC Lite gives you 120 hours a month, sessions of up to 4 hours and 256 GB of storage. Shadow PC gives you 210 hours a month, sessions of up to 6 hours and 512 GB. Every offer has a dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics card and comes with no commitment.

The Sims 4 cloud gaming:why Shadow PC is a good PC for it