A video that claims to be from the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved franchise. Dubbed Project Rene, the project has been referred to as The Sims 5, though Electronic Arts (EA) insists it's a separate spin-off. Recent leaks from a game called "City Life Game With Friends" have led many to believe this could be the next installment in the series.
The leaked video, lasting 20 minutes, shows a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, and accessories before entering a sunlit Plaza de Poupon. The player then engages in activities such as buying food and socializing, followed by a stint at an outdoor café. The characters, referred to as Sims, speak in Simlish and are marked with the iconic Plumbob, further fueling speculation about its connection to The Sims series.
"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?" said one unhappy player on The Sims' subreddit in a post titled "I think Project Rene is a red flag (I hope not)," which has garnered 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," said another. "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," posited 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," suggested another.
Project Rene, initially teased during the 2022 Behind the Sims Summit, is a free-to-play game with multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Despite not having a formal release date or full reveal, EA has conducted small, invite-only playtests. The recent leaks are believed to have originated from one of these playtests.
The name "Rene" symbolizes "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developer's commitment to a bright future for The Sims. However, last October, images of Project Rene leaked from a closed online test, raising concerns about its art style, limited features, and the inclusion of microtransactions. The café setting, reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile, drew particular skepticism. In response, EA clarified that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a distinct "cosy, social game" under The Sims franchise.
Meanwhile, a familiar character, The Burglar, has made a comeback in the latest update for The Sims 4, adding a nostalgic touch for long-time fans of the series.
