EA dropped a blog post with some massive updates about the future ofThe Sims. The blog post covers some interesting stats aboutThe Sims 4’s player habits over the past ten years, confirmation ofThe Simsmovie in production, new Creator Kits, the newThe SimsCreator Program, sign-ups forThe SimsLabs, news on future updates forThe Sims 4, and playtesting forThe Sims 4andProject Rene.
One thing that was not mentioned wasThe Sims 5, and now a senior executive at EA has gone on to reveal that there are no plans forThe Sims 5. This raises more questions than answers aboutthe nature ofProject Rene, which many had assumed was going to beThe Sims 5. Rather than creating a new game in the series and moving the series forward, EA’s apparent strategy is to expand on what it has now, rather than retiring active games.
Project Rene is the First The Sims Experiment
EA’s blog poststates:
“The Simswill move beyond linear, sequentialSimsreleases and offer more options for players than ever before…We’re focused on creating a variety of games and experiences that will touch different categories across the simulated life genre including cozy games, social and collaborative based gameplay, mobile narrative games and continued depth, improvements, and modernization ofThe Sims 4, which will continue to be a foundationalSimsexperience.”
WithThe Sims 4offering the “foundational” experience of the franchise,Project Reneappears to be the first of EA’s experimentsin this expansion ofThe Simsgames, rather than beingThe Sims 5sequel that some assumed it would be. However, right now, the only information that EA has released aboutProject Reneis that it will offer a multiplayer experience, and little else. This poses questions about the nature ofProject Rene, what type of game it will be, and what players can expect from the experience. AlthoughProject Renehadn’t been confirmed asThe Sims 5, that role would have guided what fans could have expected from it.
The Implications of Skipping The Sims 5
There will be a small play test forProject Renein fall 2024 that is invite-only. The play test announcement hopefully means that EA will be ready torelease more information aboutProject Renesoon. Information released aboutProject Reneso far is that it will be a live service, cross-platform, multiplayer experience. EA’s aim forProject Reneis for players and friends to meet, connect, and share while building in the world ofThe Sims. There has been some early customization shown for builds, but EA has been very scarce with information aboutProject Rene.
Thenews thatThe Sims 5is not happeningmarks a major change forThe Simsfranchise.The Simsformula has worked since its launch in 2000, and this change could make or break the series, especially with a slew of new competitors entering the life sim market.The Sims 4has continued to sell well even ten years after its launch, and this decision to continue it as the foundationalThe Simsexperience may have been motivated by its sales.
This may prove to be a divisive decision, however, especially with theproblems thatThe Sims 4has that are foundationaland cannot be fixed with updates. Some were hoping that a reboot ofThe Sims 5would address these issues, but will now have to hope that one ofThe Simsspin-off games provides the gameplay experience that they were looking for instead.
The Sims 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Unleash your imagination and create a unique world of Sims that’s an expression of you. Download for free, and customize every detail from Sims to homes and much more. Choose how Sims look, act, and dress, then decide how they’ll live out each day. Design and build incredible homes for every family, then decorate with your favorite furnishings and décor. Travel to different neighborhoods where you can meet other Sims and learn about their lives. Discover beautiful locations with distinctive environments and go on spontaneous adventures. Manage the ups and downs of Sims’ everyday lives, and see what happens when you play out scenarios from your own real life. Tell your stories your way while developing relationships, pursuing careers and life aspirations, and immersing yourself in this extraordinary game, where the possibilities are endless
