A video purportedly from the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future of the beloved series. Dubbed Project Rene—sometimes confused with The Sims 5, though EA insists it's a separate spin-off—the project has been in the works for a few years. The recent leak, titled "City Life Game With Friends," has led many to believe it might be the next Sims game.
The 20-minute video showcases a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities before entering a sunlit Plaza de Poupon. The player then engages in activities like buying food and socializing, and later works at an outdoor café. The characters in the footage are referred to as Sims, speak in Simlish, and feature the iconic Plumbob, further fueling speculation about its connection to The Sims series.
"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 frustrated player on The Sims subreddit in a highly upvoted post titled "I think Project Rene is a red flag (I hope not).""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," the player added, voicing concerns about the shift towards a mobile gaming approach.
Another fan remarked, "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," highlighting a common sentiment among the community.
However, some see potential in the concept: "The funny thing is, making a PC/mobile cross-compatible Sims game isn't a bad idea," one fan suggested. "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."
Another fan critiqued the broader theme, stating, "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, first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit, is a free-to-play game that introduces multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. While not formally revealed or given a release date, EA has conducted small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest likely being the source of these leaks.
The name "Rene" was chosen to symbolize "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developers' commitment to the future of The Sims. However, last October, leaked images from a closed online test 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, led to skepticism, prompting EA to clarify that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a different "cosy, social game" within The Sims franchise.
Meanwhile, fans of the classic Sims experience were treated to a nostalgic return with the latest update for The Sims 4, which reintroduced The Burglar, a familiar character from the older Sims games.
