Dearest Gentle Gamer: Netflix, Shondaland and Electronic Arts are pleased to announce that the Ton is coming to a whole new screen this month with the release of the first-ever “Bridgerton“-“The Sims 4″ collaboration.
Beginning May 12 and running through July 7, a free limited-time login event in EA’s “The Sims 4” will give access to several “Bridgerton”-themed rewards, including more than 22 items spanning Create a Sim, Build/Buy items, and even a new Trait.
Additionally, two paid kits, “The Sims 4 Lady Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ballroom Kit” and “The Sims 4 Lady Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ball Fashion Kit,” will be available for purchase separately for $6.99 each or combined into one $9.99 bundle with three additional exclusive items: “The Bridgerton House Gazebo, for clandestine encounters worthy of Benedict and Sophie; The Bridgerton House Piano, for tender declarations that might stir even Francesca…; And for those with dreams of a growing household, a Bundle of Joy Bassinet, like one you may see for Penelope and Colin.”
Per EA’s description for the fashion kit, “one may don suave tailcoats, dazzling gowns, and accessories worthy of the season’s most talked about affair: from Sophie’s Lady in Silver dress, paired with shoes and mask, to Benedict’s effortlessly styled look that is sure to invite intrigue. Adorn oneself further with Lady Bridgerton’s opulent mask and tiara, or command the room in Queen Charlotte’s striking Celestial Wig and gown. These ensembles are plucked straight from the grandest ballrooms of the ton themselves.”
Meanwhile, the ballroom kit will allow players to “construct a perfect setting befitting the social event of the season. Picture glittering crystal chandeliers, opulent florals, and a dance floor upon which every glance, and every step, carries meaning. From marble fireplaces to lavish banquet tables, the stage is set for romance… or ruin.”
The bundle offer will be available via PC via EA app, Mac via Origin, Epic Games Store and Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One systems through Aug. 14. The free-to-play “The Sims 4” base game is required.
See below for Variety‘s Q&A with “The Sims 4” producing team that worked on the “Bridgerton” collaboration, followed by preview images from the kits.
Where did you start with constructing these kits — rewatching the show to pick out pieces, or did you have requests directly from Netflix/Shondaland on what to include?
Salomon Duarte: We rewatched the show and immersed ourselves in its world to better understand its tone and artistic choices. When we first started working on these Kits, we were aware that a masquerade ball would be featured in the latest season, so we chose to center the kits around that theme and pitched our selections to Netflix and Shondaland. Netflix provided a reference deck with images from the show, which was extremely helpful in informing our designs.
For Lady Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ballroom Kit, we wanted players to be able to create builds inspired by the series, so we selected the Bridgerton family home’s entrance hall. We studied the original location from the show to identify the key architectural components, furniture, and decorations. We then designed items to function as elements of a ballroom, while keeping them versatile so that players can tell a variety of stories. Fans can also find color-coordinated floral decorations, dance floors, pastries, and a round banquet table to decorate their ball.
For Lady Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ball Fashion Kit, we picked recognizable outfits from the latest season’s masquerade ball, and Shondaland suggested iconic looks from earlier seasons. Fans will recognize Sophie’s Lady in Silver dress, Penelope’s pirate costume, Benedict’s effortlessly styled look, Lady Bridgerton’s opulent mask and tiara, and Queen Charlotte’s gown.
What was the inspiration for the in-game free event?
Ashton Wait and Renee Wooten: Inspiration for the Lady Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ball Event was drawn from the show, calling on fan favorites, iconic moments, and its signature aesthetic. As a free event, it was important that the rewards allow players to step into this world and bring something new to The Sims 4, while complementing items players may already own, including the Lady Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ball Kits!
To round out our players’ experience as a member of the ton, we focused on items that help set the atmosphere for everyday moments leading up to an evening’s festivities, like social calls with the Felted Game Table or the Gooseberry Pie at family dinners. Players can display their Sim’s very own copy of Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, or this event’s collection of character keepsakes on the Mementos Pinboard! And in the Fluttering Hand Fan, they’ll find a nod to the diversity of characters and cultures you see throughout the show. These are just some of the items we’re excited for fans to discover!
Are Bridgerton fans on The Sims team working on the project?
Ashton Wait: Yes, some of us have seen Bridgerton several times and are even fans of the genre and time period. It was a special opportunity to channel that passion into creating something new for players, and people brought forward ideas and suggestions that helped us create something we’re proud of, both as developers and as fans. This project even turned some of our team members into new fans of the series!
Was “Bridgerton” Season 4 the main inspiration, or did you pull from additional seasons?
Salomon Duarte (Kits) and Ashton Wait (event rewards): We drew inspiration from all seasons when selecting iconic items, colors, and patterns. Bridgerton has a very distinct visual identity, with each character defined by a recognizable color palette, and we used those cues to guide our decisions.
In The Sims 4, each item includes multiple color variants, and we aimed to make full use of that feature. For Lady Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ballroom Kit, we referenced memorable balls and locations from previous seasons and used their color schemes to guide our variants.
For Lady Bridgerton’s Masquerade Ball Fashion Kit, we developed a color palette that reflects a range of looks across different seasons, including colors inspired by the latest season’s masquerade ball. We aimed to make these outfits versatile, so fans may recognize the characters that inspired some of these color choices applied to particular outfits.
The event rewards are heavily inspired by the series, including the colors and patterns for the Create a Sim rewards. The pared-down Spencer dress and matching gloves have colors that nod to ladies from various families, and the overcoat outfit and boots blend some favorite travel and hunting costumes from the show. Many of the Build/Buy pieces match other items in The Sims 4 with similar materials and color combinations.
How do the new items tie into the new trait being added? If Sims are wearing or using Bridgerton items and they have the new trait, does it increase their Moodlet?
Ashton Wait and Renee Wooten: The new “Heart on Your Sleeve” trait is earned through our limited-time in-game free event, and is meant to be a gameplay element to enhance the storytelling experience. Sims with this trait experience emotions more intensely, form stronger bonds with like-minded Sims, and may develop negative relationships more quickly with Sims who have conflicting traits.
Throughout the event, players can obtain clothing assets and objects to set-dress a Bridgerton-inspired story, and the trait will help tie it all together with the show’s romantic and emotional themes. This trait was inspired by the influence of Lady Bridgerton’s values on love, and also complements the complexity of relationships between Sims.
Electronic Arts/Netflix/Shondaland
