A video that appears to be from the upcoming iteration of The Sims, known as Project Rene, has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved series. Although Electronic Arts (EA) has clarified that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a separate spin-off, the leaked footage of a game called "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to believe it might be the next installment in the franchise.
The video, spanning 20 minutes, features a player navigating through various text prompts to customize their character's appearance and activities. The gameplay then transitions to a bustling Plaza de Poupon, where the player's Sim purchases food and interacts with other characters before heading to work at an outdoor café. The use of the term "Sims," the language Simlish, and the iconic Plumbob all point towards a connection with 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 redflag (I hope not)" that has 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 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," 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 rumored to be The Sims 5 until EA clarified otherwise, was first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. It is envisioned as a free-to-play game within The Sims universe, incorporating multiplayer elements inspired by games like Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although not officially released or given a launch date, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest playtest likely being the source of these leaks.
The name "Rene" is symbolic, reflecting themes of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," signifying the developers' commitment to revitalizing the franchise. However, leaked images from a closed online test last October drew criticism regarding the game's art style, limited features, and the use of microtransactions. The inclusion of a café in the leaked footage drew particular scrutiny due to its similarities to 2018's The Sims Mobile. EA responded by reaffirming that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a distinct "cosy, social game" under The Sims brand.
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 nostalgic element back to the game.
