EA's New Sims Concept Gameplay Leaks, Fans Unhappy

A video that allegedly shows gameplay from the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking a wave of concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved series. Known as Project Rene, which has been occasionally referred to as The Sims 5, though EA insists it's a separate spin-off project, this game has been in development for several years. Recent footage from 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, features a player navigating through various text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, accessories, and activities. The player then enters a vibrant Plaza de Poupon, where they engage in social interactions, purchase food, and later work at an outdoor café. The characters in the footage are referred to as Sims, communicate 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 frustrated player on The Sims subreddit, in a post titled "I think Project Rene is a red flag (I hope not)" that garnered hundreds of upvotes. Another fan voiced their concerns, stating, "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," another player lamented. "It just seems so basic and I don't want to play The Sims on my phone." A different perspective was shared by a fan who 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 thematic shift, another fan commented, "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 until EA clarified otherwise, was first teased in 2022 at a Behind the Sims Summit. Described as a free-to-play game with multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us, it has not yet been officially revealed or given a release date. EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest test likely being the source of the recent leaks.

The name "Rene" was chosen to reflect concepts like "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developers' renewed commitment to the future of The Sims. However, last October, leaked images from Project Rene led to widespread criticism regarding its art style, limited features, and the implementation of microtransactions. The inclusion of a café, reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile, drew particular scrutiny. Following these leaks, EA reiterated that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a distinct "cosy, social game" within The Sims franchise.

Meanwhile, fans of the series were recently delighted by the return of The Burglar in the latest update for The Sims 4, bringing back a nostalgic element for long-time players.