A video purportedly showcasing the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future direction of this beloved series. Dubbed Project Rene, which is sometimes mistakenly referred to as The Sims 5 (although EA insists it's a spin-off), this project has been in the works for several years. The leaked footage, titled "City Life Game With Friends," has led many to believe it could be the next installment in The Sims franchise.
The video, lasting a full 20 minutes, captures a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities before entering a sunlit Plaza de Poupon. There, the player engages in activities such as purchasing food and socializing with other characters, before heading to work at an outdoor café. The characters in the video are referred to as Sims, communicate in Simlish, and feature the iconic Plumbob, further fueling speculation that this is indeed a new Sims game.
"I am terribly disappointed with Project Rene. Yes, I know, according to EA, 'this is not the final game.' Is this a joke or what?" expressed one disgruntled player on The Sims' subreddit in a widely upvoted post titled "I think Project Rene is a red flag (I hope not).""EA clearly wants to kill off normal Sims games and push people toward the mobile-style experience. So in their mind, a reboot literally means this — at least that’s what I THINK."
"This is not going to be for me, I can tell already," another fan remarked. "It just seems so basic and I don't want to play The Sims on my phone."
"The funny thing is, making a PC/mobile cross-compatible Sims game isn't a bad idea," suggested another player. "EA just believes that mobile games HAVE to be ugly for some reason. They're chasing all of the design trends of the past decade, but it means that this thing already looks dated and it's not even out yet."
"The way The Sims was a literal satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness... And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness," another fan commented.
Project Rene, initially rumored to be The Sims 5 before EA clarified its status, was first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. It's a free-to-play game that incorporates multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although not yet officially revealed or given a release date, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the recent leaks likely originating from one such test.
The name "Rene" reflects themes of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developer's renewed commitment to the future of The Sims.
Last October, images of Project Rene leaked from a closed online test, prompting complaints about the art style, limited features, and the implementation of microtransactions. The addition of a café, reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile, drew significant skepticism. In response, EA reiterated that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a distinct "cosy, social game" within The Sims franchise.
In other news, The Burglar, a familiar character from older Sims games, has made a return in the latest update for The Sims 4.
