In a new update, EA have patched in new gender customization options for the Sims 4.

This means that a Sim can have any kind of physique, clothing, walk style and tone of voice regardless of their gender. EA has stated that over 700 gender specific items are now no longer gated. Moreover, symbols denoting a character model’s gender in the game’s gallery have been removed.

Sims 4 executive producer Rachel Franklin said, in an email to The Associated Press, that they had been working on the update for over a year. She went on to say: “Female Sims can wear men’s suits like Ellen (DeGeneres), and male Sims can wear heels like Prince”.

The game developers worked with LGBT+ advocacy group GLAAD to make sure that the update would be respectful to transgender and gender diverse people.

Nick Adams, the director of GLAAD’s transgender media program, had the following to say:

Creating the possibility for greater gender diversity within the world of The Sims is an exciting development …  It was a pleasure working with developers who were committed to updating the game so that all players can create a Sims world that more accurately reflects the world in which we live today.

Senior producer Lyndsay Pearson clarified on Twitter that the update won’t affect NPC characters automatically generated by the game.

To access this new mode, you will have to have all previous updates for the Sims 4.