Information about Project Rene is still scarce, with the upcoming title in The Sims franchise mostly being left in the dark. However, it’s clear that Project Rene will build upon key gameplay features of its predecessors. With twenty-five years of video games to choose from, Project Rene will certainly be jam-packed with quality content for Simmers.
If EA and Maxis want to maintain their promise of Project Rene being an all-inclusive gaming experience, one gameplay feature from The Sims 4 must be included. This feature would help build the gaming community that The Sims team have been striving for, building upon Project Rene’s announced online cross-platform multiplayer capabilities.
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Cupid’s Arrow Strikes Project Rene
Though Cupid’s Corner was only released less than a year ago, in July 2024, the Lovestruck Expansion Pack has made this new gameplay feature a mainstay. Essentially acting as The Sims 4’s dating app, Cupid’s Corner can not only connect Sims romantically, but can not only a player’s Sim to new friends, acquaintances, and even enemies. With Project Rene’s supposed online focus, Simmers could now form these relationships with other Simmers.
But Cupid’s Corner may seem like an unlikely addition. After all, the feature was added to The Sims 4 through DLC. It seems unlikely that EA and Maxis would willingly remove the paywall of a feature. However, leaks from data miners suggest that previously paywalled features will be included in Project Rene. The biggest example of this is Project Rene’s version of Create-A-Sim (CAS). In The Sims 4, animals that can be edited in its version of CAS are only available through packs like the Cats & Dogs and Horse Ranch Expansion Packs. These data mine leaks allege that Project Rene’s version of Create-A-Sim will include cats, dogs, and horses in its base game.
If these leaks are true, then a precedent has been set for Project Rene to turn to other paywalled features across The Sims franchise. This makes Cupid’s Corner not only a necessary addition, but a highly possible one to join Project Rene at launch.
How Cupid’s Corner Would Work in Project Rene
Cupid’s Corner’s main gameplay features filling out an extensive dating profile for players’ Sims, checking for potential matches, and setting up dates for the Sim and their match. The new Sims dating app even has a link to the Gallery, allowing Sims from the Gallery to act as potential matches for one’s Sim.
Project Rene’s version of Cupid’s Corner could be similar to The Sims 4’s Gallery system. Players could hypothetically upload their Sims to Project Rene’s version of the Gallery. Based on a fake dating profile created for their Sim, an algorithm could set up aligned Sims together. This would proceed with a predesigned date, with limited dialogue and action options for both Sims on the date. This would allow players to still take their Sims on a date that feels authentic while maintaining a wall between the online and the real. Perhaps the dialogue options could change based on each Sim’s character traits or interests listed on their Cupid’s Corner dating profile.
This new version of Cupid’s Corner obviously should not act as a real-life dating app for players, as the game will likely follow The Sims franchise’s tradition of a “T” rating. Therefore, safety is paramount. Taking Sims on dates is a fun, romantic gameplay feature that all players can enjoy, regardless of age. With pre-set dialogue and actions available for players to choose from, the experience would be safer for Simmers on the younger side.
At the end of the day, EA and Maxis will continue to leave Project Rene shrouded in mystery. But as long as The Sims team is looking for new gameplay features to add to the highly anticipated new title, Cupid’s Corner should definitely be considered as an addition to Project Rene.
