EA's New Sims Concept Leaks Online, Fans Unhappy

A video claiming to be from 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, which has been referred to interchangeably with The Sims 5, though EA insists it's a separate spin-off, the project has been in the works for several years. Recent early access footage from a game titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to believe this could be the next Sims game.

The video, which lasts 20 minutes, shows a player navigating through text prompts to choose their outfit, hair, watch, activities, and more. The gameplay then transitions to a sunlit Plaza de Poupon, where the player purchases 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 feature the iconic Plumbob.

"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," said 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," 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 literally a satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness.... And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness," commented another.

Project Rene, initially thought to be The Sims 5 until EA clarified otherwise, was first teased in 2022 at a Behind the Sims Summit. It's a free-to-play game that incorporates multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although not yet officially revealed or given a release date, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, which likely led to the recent leaks.

The name "Rene" was chosen to signify "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developer's commitment to a bright future for The Sims.

Last October, images of Project Rene leaked from a closed online test, prompting criticism 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 at this point that EA clarified that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a different "cosy, social game" under The Sims franchise.

Meanwhile, fans of the series were pleasantly surprised by the return of The Burglar in the latest update for The Sims 4, a nostalgic nod to the older games in the series.