EA's New Sims Concept Leaks Online, Fans Unhappy

A video purportedly from the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future of the beloved series. Known as Project Rene, which is sometimes confused with The Sims 5 but officially described by EA as a spin-off, the project has been in the works for several years. A leaked video titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to speculate that this could be the next big Sims game.

The video, lasting a full 20 minutes, features gameplay where the player navigates through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities. The character then spawns into a sunlit Plaza de Poupon, engages in buying food, and interacts with 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 franchise.

"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 redflag (I hope not)" that 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 a literally [sic] satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness.... And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness," remarked another.

Project Rene, initially rumored to be The Sims 5 until EA clarified otherwise, was first hinted at in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. It's a free-to-play game within The Sims universe, featuring 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 presumably leading to these leaks.

The name "Rene" was chosen to evoke themes of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developers' commitment to a vibrant future for The Sims. However, leaked images from a closed online test last October drew criticism regarding the art style, limited features, and the inclusion of microtransactions. The addition of a café, reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile, raised further doubts. In response, EA clarified that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a distinct "cosy, social game" under The Sims franchise.

Meanwhile, fans of the series were delighted to see The Burglar, a nostalgic character from older Sims games, return in the latest update for The Sims 4.