Steelseries have provided gaming hardware for many years, occasionally offering selected models that have been branded towards a particular intellectual property. The latest game to be promoted in this fashion is The Sims 4, with several items being produced to give fans of the life simulator a whole new dimension to their virtual existences. With that out in the open, let us have a look at The Sims 4 headset, which can be purchased along with The Sims 4 gaming mouse and The Sims 4 gaming mouse mat which we have also reviewed.

The packing for the headset matches the grey, green and white colour scheme of The Sims 4, as does the product itself. Unlike some of the headsets I have tried in the past, it was easy to unclip the packaging without destroying it, and the matte plastic effect gives it a professional streamlined appearance. When I tried on the headset, it fit comfortably with little alteration, although if you did need to change the size, it has a sturdy locking mechanism so you don’t have to worry about it falling off your head.

The headset only uses a 2 metre USB lead to connect to your computer, which is a slight let down if you were hoping to use it with portable music devices. The good news is that it remains relatively tangle free, as long as you are careful not to kink the wire in too many places. To make sure you are comfortable during use, a soft padded headrest and two fabric earmuffs are permanently attached. While I did not become uncomfortable whilst wearing the headset, I noticed that the earmuffs do not have great breathability and can make your ears toasty causing them to sweat. Which has not happened whilst using other similar products.

Although it could be classed as a bell and whistles rather than a feature, one of the main selling points of this headset is the LED plumbob light that changes colour, depending on the mood of the active Sim if you are playing The Sims 4. This is also shared on The Sims 4 gaming mouse, and when I tested it with the game, found that it worked exactly as advertised and is vividly bright and distinct for each mood setting, even for the colours that share a similar hue. There was no visible delay in the mood light being changed, and does exactly what it says on the tin. There is the option to use this feature with other software but you will need to configure it using a tool found on the Steelseries website.

The audio quality of The Sims 4 Gaming Headset is very impressive for the price, but can sound slightly tinny on occasions as it lacks enhancement such as a bass boost. This was not a problem whilst playing The Sims 4, as there is rarely an occasion to require premium audio enhancements to get the best result. This was a slight disadvantage in games with a focus on high definition audio, such as Bioshock Infinite and Fable Anniversary, as some of the background music and sound effects sounded slightly flat, in comparison to similar products with a slightly higher technical specification.

I was slightly worried that I could not find a microphone attached to the product, but upon plugging it into my computer, I discovered that a microphone was present, and upon closer inspected, discovered that it was situated inside the plastic frame behind one of the earphones. The recording quality was average at best, but is perfectly reasonable for chatting through Skype or other internet message services. Why Steelseries decided to place the microphone in that position does not seem to be clear, but the lack of ability to choose its position feels like a step backwards, rather than an innovation.

Overall, The Sims 4 gaming headset is an entry level headset with a firm build, but fairly average sound quality. The issue of being worn for long periods of time defeats the purpose of the headset, and the lack of external microphone can lead to frustration during use. It is ideal if you are looking for a headset to compliment your latest Sims purchase, but if you are looking for a dedicated gaming headset, you are probably better looking elsewhere.

If you are interested in seeing the other products in this range, be sure to check out The Sims 4 Gaming mouse and The Sims 4 gaming mouse pad, also reviewed here on VGU.