Questions continue to swirl around the enigmaticProject Rene, the supposed next release inThe Simsfranchise. Following a high-level reveal back in 2022, virtually no information about the game has seen the light of day, with somerumors even suggesting thatProject Renehas been canceled. While this hasn’t been confirmed by EA or Maxxis, it’s indicative of just how crucial it is for the companies to speak out about this next generation ofThe Sims.
Maxxis performed a very limited playtest forProject Renein 2022, allowing a small group of players to engage in a prototype of the game’s home customization. The purpose of the playtest was to gather information from outside parties, which could in turn lead to a better final product, rather than to preview or market the game. In other words,Project Renewas in the extremely early stages of development at this point in 2022, and with no additional news coming to light since then, many are wondering if the game will ever be released at all, or what final form it will take.
Players Will Need an Update on Project Rene Soon
Project Rene Could Be Canceled
As previously mentioned, there’s some evidence thatProject Renemay have been canceled. As it often goes in these sorts of circumstances, none of this information comes from official, syndicated channels, but reasonable conclusions have been drawn based on information from LinkedIn. Specifically, a character artist cited working onThe Sims 5in their work experience, noting that the game had been canceled.
Of course,Project Reneisn’t exactlyThe Sims 5, as it’s described as “a new generation” of the franchise, but someone explicitly stating thatThe Sims 5has been canceled is bound to raise some eyebrows.Project Reneisn’t being described as a replacement forThe Sims 4, so perhaps there indeed was aSims 5in development at one point, that was either scrapped or folded intoProject Rene.
But with no word from EA or Maxxis, it’s hard to say what the state ofProject Reneis. The past few years have seen the failure of many new AAA live-service titles, and withThe Sims 4remaining as relevant as ever through new updates and DLCs, it wouldn’t be unrealistic for Maxxis to move on fromProject Reneand simply stick with expandingthe existingSimsproperty with additional content offerings. But clarity will be key, and Maxxis should at least make it clear whetherProject Reneis still on the table.
The World Isn’t Waiting for Project Rene
One of the biggest reasons why Maxxis shouldn’t sit onProject Renefor too long is the imminent arrival ofSimscompetitors.Life by Youmay have been canceled, but the hotly anticipatedParalivesis still on the table, not to mentionthe impressively detailedInZOI, which is bringing hyperrealism to the classicSimsformula. Put simply, other companies are reaching for the crown that has sat on Maxxis' head for decades, and with no news aboutProject Reneon the horizon, they just might snatch it.
At the same time,The Sims 4is still the de-facto life sim experience. The franchise carries years of good will and cultural cache, soProject Rene’s potential is through the roof, even if it has been kept under wraps for a while now. MaybeMaxxis doesn’t need to rushProject Reneout the door, but the developer ought to give some sort of update, perhaps giving players an official gameplay reveal within the next year or so, if for no other reason than to simply confirm the game’s existence.
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
