A video purportedly showcasing the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved franchise. Project Rene, sometimes referred to as The Sims 5, though EA insists it's a separate spin-off, has been in development for several years. Recent early access footage of a game titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to believe this could be the next installment in The Sims series.
The leaked video, spanning 20 minutes, features a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities before spawning into a sunlit Plaza de Poupon. There, the character purchases food and interacts with other locals before heading to work at an outdoor café. Throughout the playtest, 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 frustrated player on The Sims' subreddit in a highly upvoted post titled "I think Project Rene is a red flag (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," the post continued, reflecting a sentiment shared by many fans worried about the shift towards mobile gaming.
"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."
Some fans see potential in the idea of a cross-platform Sims game. "The funny thing is, making a PC/mobile cross-compatible Sims game isn't a bad idea," one suggested. "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."
Another user critiqued the game's thematic direction, stating, "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."
Project Rene, initially rumored to be The Sims 5, was first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. Described as a free-to-play game with multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us, it has yet to receive an official release date. EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, which likely led to the recent leaks.
The name "Rene" reflects themes of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developers' commitment to a bright future for The Sims. However, last October, leaked images from a closed test prompted criticism regarding the game's art style, limited features, and the inclusion of microtransactions. The addition of a café, reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile, drew particular skepticism, leading EA to clarify that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a different "cosy, social game" within The Sims franchise.
Meanwhile, a nostalgic element from older Sims games, The Burglar, made a return in the latest update for The Sims 4, delighting longtime fans.
