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 insists it's 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 believe that this could be the next installment in The Sims franchise.

The video, which runs for a full 20 minutes, shows a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities. The player then enters a sunlit Plaza de Poupon, where they purchase food and interact with other characters. Later, the player works at an outdoor café. Throughout the playtest, characters are referred to as Sims, speak in Simlish, and feature the iconic Plumbob, further fueling 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 literally a 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 a free-to-play game that incorporates 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 reflect themes of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developers' renewed commitment to the future of 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 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 reminded of the past with the return of The Burglar in the latest update for The Sims 4, a character familiar to long-time players of the series.