A video that's supposedly from the upcoming iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concerns among fans about the future of the beloved franchise. Known as Project Rene, which is sometimes mistakenly referred to as The Sims 5, although EA insists it's a separate project, has been in the works for several years. However, a leaked 20-minute gameplay video 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 video features a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's appearance and activities before spawning into a vibrant Plaza de Poupon. Here, the player engages in social interactions, buys food, and works at an outdoor café. The characters are unmistakably referred to as Sims, communicate in Simlish, and sport 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 one disappointed player on The Sims' subreddit in a post titled "I think Project Rene is a red flag (I hope not)," which 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," commented another. "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," noted 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," reflected another.
Project Rene, initially speculated to be The Sims 5 until EA clarified otherwise, was first hinted at in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. It's designed as a free-to-play game with multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although it hasn't been officially unveiled or given a release date, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest test likely responsible for the recent leaks.
The name "Rene" is chosen to symbolize "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developer's commitment to a vibrant future for The Sims.
Last October, leaked images from Project Rene's closed online test drew criticism for the game's art style, limited features, and microtransactions. The inclusion of a café reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile stirred further skepticism. In response, EA clarified that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but will be a distinct "cozy, social game" within The Sims franchise.
Meanwhile, The Burglar, a nostalgic character from the earlier Sims games, made a return in the latest The Sims 4 update, reminding players of the series' rich history.
