EA's New Sims Concept Leaks, Fans Disappointed

A video allegedly showcasing the next iteration of The Sims, known as Project Rene, has surfaced online, sparking concerns among fans about the future direction of this beloved series. Initially thought to be The Sims 5, Project Rene has been clarified by EA as a separate spin-off project. However, the leaked footage from a game titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to believe it could be the next entry in the Sims franchise.

The leaked video, spanning 20 minutes, features a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities. The gameplay then transitions to a sunlit Plaza de Poupon, where the player engages in activities such as purchasing food and socializing with other characters. The video also shows the player working at an outdoor café. Notably, the characters are referred to as Sims, speak in Simlish, and prominently feature the iconic Plumbob, further fueling speculation about its connection to The Sims series.

"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 player 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 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 fan remarked.

Project Rene, initially rumored to be The Sims 5 but later clarified by EA as a distinct project, was first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. It is designed as a free-to-play game with multiplayer elements inspired by games like Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although it has not been officially released or given a release date, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest playtest likely being the source of the recent leaks.

The name "Rene" is symbolic, drawing from terms like "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developers' commitment to revitalizing The Sims franchise. However, last October, leaked images from a closed online test raised concerns about 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. In response, EA reiterated that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a different "cosy, social game" within The Sims universe.

In other news, fans of the series will be pleased to know that The Sims 4 recently received an update that reintroduced the iconic Burglar character, a nostalgic nod to the older Sims games.