EA's New Sims Concept Leak Sparks Fan Backlash Online

A video purportedly taken from the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, stirring up concerns among fans about the future of the beloved franchise. Known as Project Rene, which is sometimes confused with The Sims 5 though EA clarifies it as a separate spin-off, this project has been in development for several years. Recently, early access footage of a game titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to speculate that this could be the next entry in the The Sims series.

The leaked video, spanning 20 minutes, showcases a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's appearance and activities before entering a sunlit Plaza de Poupon. The gameplay involves buying food and interacting with other characters, followed by working at an outdoor café. Notably, the characters are referred to as Sims, speak in Simlish, and are marked with the iconic Plumbob, further fueling speculation about its connection to The Sims.

"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," stated 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," noted 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 during a Behind the Sims Summit. It is described as a free-to-play game featuring 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, which likely resulted in the recent leaks.

The name "Rene" was chosen to symbolize "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," reflecting the developer's commitment to a vibrant future for The Sims. However, last October, leaked images from a closed online test of Project Rene sparked criticism regarding its art style, limited features, and the inclusion of microtransactions. The presence of a café in the game drew comparisons to 2018's The Sims Mobile, leading EA to reaffirm that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but rather a distinct "cosy, social game" under the The Sims banner.

In other news, fans of the series will be delighted to know that The Sims 4 has reintroduced The Burglar, a nostalgic element from previous games, in its latest update.