EA's New The Sims Concept Leaks: Fans Unhappy

A video purportedly taken from the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved franchise. Known as Project Rene, which some fans mistakenly believe to be The Sims 5, but officially described by EA as a separate spin-off, the project has been in development for several years. Recent early access footage of a game titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to speculate that this could be the next installment in The Sims series.

The video, which runs for 20 minutes, showcases a player navigating through various text prompts to customize their character's appearance and activities. The gameplay then transitions to a sunlit Plaza de Poupon where the player character, referred to as a Sim, engages in everyday activities such as buying food and socializing. The video also features the character working at an outdoor café. Throughout the footage, characters are clearly identified as Sims, speaking in the series' iconic Simlish language, and sporting the recognizable Plumbob.

Another player voiced their dissatisfaction, saying, "This is not going to be for me, I can tell already. It just seems so basic and I don't want to play The Sims on my phone." On a slightly more optimistic note, a fan suggested, "The funny thing is, making a PC/mobile cross-compatible Sims game isn't a bad idea. 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."

Reflecting on the series' roots, another fan remarked, "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 but later clarified by EA as a distinct project, was first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. Described as a free-to-play game, it incorporates multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although not formally released or given a release date, EA has conducted small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest presumably leading to these recent leaks.

The name "Rene" was chosen to symbolize "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developers' vision for a revitalized future for The Sims. However, last October, leaked images from a closed online test drew 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, further fueled skepticism. In response, EA reiterated that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a different "cosy, social game" under The Sims franchise.

Meanwhile, a familiar face from the older Sims games, The Burglar, made a nostalgic return in the latest update for The Sims 4.