Cannot see, visit, or invite any NPCs at all

[Seventopia]

Product: The Sims 4
Platform:PC
Which language are you playing the game in? English
How often does the bug occur? Every time (100%)
What is your current game version number? 1.70.84.1020
What expansions, game packs, and stuff packs do you have installed? Snowy Escape, Eco Lifestyle, Discover University, Island Living, Get Famous, Seasons, Cats & Dogs, City Living, Get Together, Get To Work, Strangerville, Jungle Adventure, Parenthood, Dine Out, Spa Day, Outdoor Retreat, Nifty Knitting, Tiny Living, Moschino, My First Pet, Laundry Day, Bowling Night, Vintage Glamour, Romantic Garden, Movie Hangout, Cool Kitchen, Perfect Patio, Luxury Party, Holiday Celebration Stuff
Steps: How can we find the bug ourselves? Attempt to go to an NPC's house, invite an NPC over to current lot, invite an NPC out. Or switch control to the NPC, bring them to the lot you want them to go, and switch back to the household you play as. Or just travel to any location.
What happens when the bug occurs? NPCs are absolutely nowhere in the game. They are always gone and the game always says their locations are "Secret". The game acts like the active household is the only household in the entire game. NPCs do not show up when invited to the current lot, invited out, or when I make a Sim visit the NPCs at their homes. The game will say the NPCs are home, and if I go visit them and knock on the door, it says no one is home. Then when I leave and try switching to the NPCs I tried visiting, they're greyed out and it says their location is "Secret" I've tried playing as the NPCs I'm trying to invite, making them travel to the lot I wish to bring them to, and then switching back to my main household. This just results in the NPCs disappearing. If I just travel to any place at all, absolutely no NPCs show up. No NPCs are ever seen walking on the streets. There's not even any staff at bars and cafes and such.
What do you expect to see? There should be NPCs just anywhere in general. NPCs I invite should come to visit my active household after a few seconds. NPCs I invite out should meet my Sims there. NPCs should allow my Sims in when I go to their homes. NPCs should be filling the public lots I go to, such as libraries, bars, gyms, museums, etc.
Have you installed any customization with the game, e.g. Custom Content or Mods? Not now. I've removed them.
Did this issue appear after a specific patch or change you made to your system? Yes
Please describe the patch or change you made. Update to 1.70.84.1020

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Cannot see, visit, or invite any NPCs at all.

[crinrict]

Hi @Seventopia 

Try resetting your user files as described in the factory reset described in this post: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-4/FAQ-Troubleshooting-Steps-amp-Known-Issues/m-p/3621199

You won't loose anything. Just make sure to not delete any files  and make a backup.

After renaming, repair your game by right clicking on the game in Origin.

Try on a new game with nothing added back first (start new game). If it works, put back your save game and try again. If it still works, you can start putting stuff back.

• Options.ini (or just re-set all your settings manually)
• Tray Folder
• Screenshots/Videos/Custom music
• Rest of the save games (leave out slot_00000001.save which is the autosave and no longer needed - if you still have it)
• Custom content like clothing, hair, skins, make up ....
• ConfigOverride, if you have your own configuration files.
• Mods (one by one, making sure they all still work)

The rest does not need putting back, cause they are mostly cache files that recreate or log files that are not needed for the game.

[SimGuruNick]

@Seventopia If you're still encountering this issue, could you possibly share a save file with me where you've seen it occur? You can DM me the link to your save, thanks so much!

Instructions for sending me your save: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-4-Bug-Reports/INFORMATION-How-to-Send-User-Files-to-The-Sims-4-Tea...

[crinrict]

@Seventopia Are you still having issues with this ?