EA's New Sims Concept Leaks Online, Fans Unhappy

A video that allegedly showcases the next installment of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved franchise. Known as Project Rene, which is sometimes referred to as The Sims 5, though EA clarifies that it is actually a spin-off, this project has been in the works for several years. Recent footage from a game titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to speculate that it might indeed be the next Sims game.

The video, lasting a full 20 minutes, shows a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities before entering a vibrant Plaza de Poupon. Here, the player engages in social interactions, purchases food, and later works at an outdoor café. The characters in the video are unmistakably referred to as Sims, communicate in Simlish, and 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," remarked 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 a literally [sic] satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness.... And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness," commented 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 set to be a free-to-play game with multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although no formal release date has been announced, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since the project's reveal, with the latest playtest likely being the source of these recent leaks.

The name "Rene" was chosen to evoke themes of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developers' renewed commitment to a vibrant future for The Sims. However, images leaked last October 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. It was then that EA clarified that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but rather a distinct "cosy, social game" under The Sims franchise.

Meanwhile, fans of the older Sims games were delighted to see The Burglar return in the latest update for The Sims 4, bringing back a nostalgic element to the current game.