The Sims 3 - What order do we install the expansions/patches?


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I have the following ready to install:

  • The Sims 3
  • The Sims 3: World Adventures
  • The Sims 3: Ambitions
  • The Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff/Design and Hi-Tech Stuff
  • The Sims 3: Fast Lane Stuff

I also have the following patches:

  • The Sims 3 1.15.34
  • The Sims 3: World Adventures 2.9.10
  • The Sims 3: Ambitions 4.2.32
  • The Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff/Design and Hi-Tech Stuff 3.5.8

I believe this is everything I need to install the most complete and up-to-date The Sims 3 experience.

However, which order should I install all these in? It's very confusing!

Why not just install TS3, then world adventures, then ambitions, then high end loft, then fast lane, and use the launcher to check for updates? The expansions included the latest patches for when they came out. Interim patches won't matter, but there might be a patch or 2 after the newest

The order that you posted them. The minor exp don't matter on order. Just the major expansions. At least, that's the way it was with the Sims 2.

Patches are usually included in the major releases, so you shouldn't need the one for Sims 3 or Worlds. However, if you want to make sure, install the patch after installing that expansion. If it's already installed, it will let you know.

That is always the way that I have done it, and never had a problem.

Plus, I think Sims 3 checks for updates on it's own, so no need to worry about the patches.

Yep, don't think you need to have an order like you did with The Sims 2.

Just install them any way you want (or to be extra sure, just do them in release order) as I really don't think the "install in order" applies anymore for TS3.

  • 4 weeks later...

What a coincidence!! Just what I needed! I was searching on Google on how to do this and stumbled upon this thread!

Thanks to OP!smile.gif

The patches give you a somewhat huge hint as to what is the order.

The two Stuff packs have no order, it's like a DLC.

I would first install all by the order, then only patch the latest game, which would be Ambitions.

They do have product versions though. Last I checked -

Sims 3 is 1.x

World Adventures is 2.x

High End Loft Stuff is 3.x

Ambitions is 4.x

I don't have Fast Lane but I'd guess it's 5.x

I always do it in order as I can...not because I need to.

Also, pretty sure if you only install the patch for Ambitions it'll require the patch for the other content still.

I'm strictly speaking by using my own logic, it doesn't necessarily have to be true, keep that in mind :)

If you want to be sure, just install them as you would if those expansions were not yet released, so follow the chronological order of things.

Fast lane is in fact 5.x

Judging by the Sims 3 web site the patches don't care what expansion are you running, you can update to 1.15 (latest according to the site) and Ambitions won't ask to be updated, as it also updates it to 4.3 if you have it).

So the updates could be said "expansion free" :)

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