A video purportedly showcasing the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concerns among fans about the future of the beloved series. Known as Project Rene, which is sometimes referred to as The Sims 5, though EA insists it's a separate spin-off project, this game has been in development for a few 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, which runs for 20 minutes, features a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities before entering a sunlit Plaza de Poupon. Here, the player's Sim buys food and interacts with other characters, eventually heading to work at an outdoor café. Throughout the video, characters are referred to as Sims, speak in Simlish, and display the iconic Plumbob, further fueling speculation about its connection to The Sims.
"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 a disgruntled player on The Sims subreddit in a highly upvoted post titled "I think Project Rene is a redflag (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 a 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 a literally [sic] satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness.... And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness," another fan mused.
Project Rene, initially rumored to be The Sims 5 until EA clarified otherwise, was first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. This free-to-play game incorporates multiplayer elements inspired by games like Animal Crossing and Among Us. While it hasn't been officially revealed or given a release date, EA has conducted small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest presumably leading to these recent leaks.
The name "Rene" reflects themes of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developer's renewed commitment to The Sims' future.
Last October, leaked images from a closed online test of Project Rene drew criticism for its art style, limited features, and the inclusion of microtransactions. The addition of a café, reminiscent of The Sims Mobile from 2018, raised further 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.
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