EA's New Sims Concept Gameplay Leaks, Fans Unhappy

A video that appears to be from the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, stirring a wave of concern among fans about the future direction of the beloved series. Known as Project Rene, which some fans have speculated could be The Sims 5, though EA has clarified that it's a separate spin-off, this project has been in the works for several years. Recent footage from a game titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to believe this might be the next big Sims installment.

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 before entering a sunlit Plaza de Poupon. Here, the character engages in everyday activities such as purchasing food and socializing, before heading to work at an outdoor café. The characters are unmistakably referred to as Sims, communicate in Simlish, and sport the iconic Plumbob, adding to the speculation that this is indeed a new Sims game.

"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?" said one unhappy player on The Sims' subreddit in a post titled "I think Project Rene is a redflag (I hope not)" that has garnered hundreds of upvotes.

"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," posited 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," suggested another.

First teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit, Project Rene—initially rumored to be The Sims 5 but later clarified by EA as a different project—promises a free-to-play experience with multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. While it has not been officially revealed or given a release date, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests. The latest of these playtests likely led to the recent leaks.

The name "Rene" is chosen to reflect themes of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developer's renewed commitment to the future of The Sims.

Last October, images of Project Rene leaked from a closed online test, prompting fans to voice concerns over the art style, limited features, and the implementation of microtransactions. The inclusion of a café reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile drew particular scrutiny. In response, EA emphasized that Project Rene is not The Sims 5, but rather a distinct "cosy, social game" under The Sims franchise.

Meanwhile, fans of The Sims 4 were delighted to see the return of The Burglar in the game's latest update, rekindling memories of the older Sims games.