EA's New Sims Concept Leak Sparks Fan Backlash

A video purportedly taken 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 is sometimes referred to as The Sims 5, though EA clarifies it as a spin-off, this 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 speculate that this could be the next installment in The Sims franchise.

The video, which runs for 20 minutes, shows a player navigating through 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's character, referred to as a Sim, engages in activities like buying food and socializing with other Sims. The character later works at an outdoor café. The presence of Sims, Simlish language, and the iconic Plumbob further fuels speculation about its connection to The Sims 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's described as a free-to-play game with multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although it hasn't 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, leaked images from a closed online test of Project Rene drew criticism regarding its art style, limited features, and the use of microtransactions. The inclusion of a café, reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile, raised further 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 reminded of the past with the return of The Burglar in the latest update for The Sims 4, bringing a nostalgic element back to the game.