EA's New Sims 'Concept' Leaks Online, Fans Unhappy

A video allegedly showcasing the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved series. Known as Project Rene, this project is sometimes referred to as The Sims 5, although EA has clarified that it is actually a spin-off. The leaked footage, titled "City Life Game With Friends," has led many to believe it might be the next installment in the Sims franchise.

The video, lasting a full 20 minutes, features a player navigating through various text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities. The gameplay then transitions to a sunlit Plaza de Poupon, where the player purchases food and interacts with other characters before heading to work at an outdoor café. Throughout the playtest, characters are referred to as Sims, communicate in Simlish, and display the iconic Plumbob, further fueling speculation about its connection to the main 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," another fan remarked. "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," suggested 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," another fan pointed out.

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 a free-to-play game that incorporates multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although it has not been officially revealed or given a release date, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest playtest likely being the source of these recent leaks.

The name "Rene" was chosen to symbolize "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developers' commitment to a bright future for The Sims. However, last October, images from Project Rene leaked during a closed online test, leading to criticism regarding the art style, limited features, and the inclusion of microtransactions. The addition of a café, reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile, drew particular skepticism. In response, EA reiterated that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a different "cosy, social game" under The Sims franchise.

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