A video allegedly showcasing the next evolution of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among longtime fans about the future direction of the beloved life simulation franchise.
Project Rene—a codename often mistaken for The Sims 5, though EA clarifies it's a separate spin-off—has been in development for several years. Recently, early access footage from a game titled "City Life Game With Friends" has led many players to believe this could be the foundation of the next major entry in the series.
The 20-minute video walks through a playtest session where the player selects outfits, hairstyles, accessories, and activities via text-based prompts. The Sim then spawns into a bright, open plaza called Plaza de Poupon, purchases food, interacts with other Sims in Simlish, and even works at an outdoor café—all while clearly displaying the iconic Plumbob above each character.
One disappointed player wrote on The Sims subreddit in a post titled "I think Project Rene is a red flag (I hope not)"—which quickly gained hundreds of upvotes:
"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?"
Another fan echoed the sentiment:
"This is not going to be for me, I can tell already. It just seems so basic—and I don't want to play The Sims on my phone."
Some users acknowledged the potential of a cross-platform experience:
"Making a PC/mobile-compatible Sims game isn’t a bad idea. EA just believes mobile games HAVE to be ugly for some reason. They're chasing all the design trends of the past decade—it already looks dated, and it’s not even out yet."
Others noted a deeper irony:
"The way The Sims was literally [sic] satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness... And this is where it ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness."
Project Rene was first teased in 2022 during the Behind the Sims Summit. Described as a free-to-play, social, multiplayer-driven experience inspired by games like Animal Crossing and Among Us, it currently lacks a formal release date. EA has been running small, invite-only playtests since its debut, with this latest leak likely originating from one such test.
The name “Rene” was chosen to reflect themes of “renewal, renaissance, and rebirth”—symbolizing the team’s commitment to a fresh chapter for the franchise.
However, last October, leaked images from a closed test ignited backlash over the game’s simplified art style, limited features, and apparent microtransaction model. In particular, the inclusion of a café drew skepticism due to its strong resemblance to mechanics in The Sims Mobile (2018). That’s when EA officially clarified: Project Rene is not The Sims 5, but rather a cozy, social companion title under the broader Sims umbrella.
In the meantime, longtime fans can still enjoy familiar elements in The Sims 4—like the recent return of The Burglar, a nostalgic NPC who’s once again sneaking into homes and stealing items, much to the delight of legacy players.
