A video purportedly showcasing the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, stirring concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved series. Known as Project Rene, which is sometimes mistakenly referred to as The Sims 5, although EA insists it's a separate spin-off, this project has been in development for several years. The leaked footage from a game titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to speculate that it might be the next entry in The Sims series.
The 20-minute video shows 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's character, referred to as a Sim, engages in activities like buying food and socializing, and later works at an outdoor café. The presence of The Sims' iconic Plumbob and the use of Simlish language further fuel speculation that this could be the next 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 disappointed player on The Sims' subreddit in a post titled "I think Project Rene is a red flag (I hope not)," which received hundreds of upvotes."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 user commented. "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 fan. "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 literally a satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness... And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness," another fan remarked.
Project Rene, initially thought to be The Sims 5 until EA clarified otherwise, was first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. It is designed as a free-to-play game with multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although it has not been officially revealed or given a release date, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest playtest likely being the source of the recent leaks.
The name "Rene" was chosen to symbolize "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developers' commitment to a vibrant future for The Sims franchise. However, last October, leaked images from a closed online test of Project Rene sparked criticism regarding its art style, limited features, and the implementation of microtransactions. The addition of a café reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile drew particular skepticism, prompting EA to reaffirm that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a distinct "cosy, social game" within The Sims franchise.
Meanwhile, fans of the original series were reminded of the past with the return of The Burglar in the latest update for The Sims 4, bringing a touch of nostalgia to the current game.
