EA's New Sims Concept Leaks Online, Fans Unhappy
A video purportedly from the next installment of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved series. Known as Project Rene, which is sometimes referred to as The Sims 5, though EA insists it is a spin-off, this project has been in the works for several years. Recent early access footage titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to believe it might be the next Sims game.
The 20-minute video showcases a player navigating through text prompts to choose their outfit, hair, watch, and activities before spawning into a sunlit Plaza de Poupon. The player then engages in activities like buying food and socializing with other characters, later working at an outdoor café. Throughout the playtest, characters are referred to as Sims, speak in Simlish, and are topped with the iconic Plumbob, hallmarks of The Sims franchise.
"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 fan 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," another fan 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 a different 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 remarked.
First teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit, Project Rene — initially thought to be The Sims 5 until EA clarified otherwise — is a free-to-play game featuring multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although it has not yet 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 leaks.
The name "Rene" was chosen to evoke words like "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developer's commitment to a bright future for The Sims. However, last October, leaked images from Project Rene drew criticism for its art style, limited features, and the inclusion of microtransactions. The café setting in particular drew comparisons to 2018's The Sims Mobile, prompting EA to reiterate that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a different "cosy, social game" within the franchise.
Meanwhile, fans of the 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 iteration of the game.
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