Why The Sims 5’s Loss Might Be Project Rene’s Gain

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 18, 2024 47 Views 7 Min Read
Why The Sims 5's Loss Might Be Project Rene's Gain

EA and Maxis have announced several changes to The Sims franchise, including confirmation that they’re not working on The Sims 5. However, the mysterious Project Rene has essentially filled the role of The Sims 5, which could benefit not only players, but The Sims as a franchise in the long run.




Even before the cancelation of The Sims 5, not much was known about the project. The same can be said about Project Rene, which EA and Maxis have been determined to remain tight-lipped on. Nevertheless, some information about the canceled Sims game and Project Rene is available to the public by EA and Maxis. Additionally, information about Project Rene has been leaked, giving players further insight.

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What is Known About Project Rene

Project Rene was first announced at the 2022 Behind the Sims Summit. This first announcement established important Project Rene features that continue to be marketed today, including the game’s multiplayer and cross-platform capabilities. EA and Maxis confirmed that Project Rene will still feature solo play like previous installments in The Sims franchise, but have continued to emphasize the game’s multiplayer aspect.


Additionally, the announcement discussed Project Rene’s design features, primarily for the game’s Build and Buy Mode. Players will be able to interact with different components of a piece of furniture when picking swatches and textures, rather than changing the appearance of the entire piece. It’s clear that Project Rene is meant to act as a new phase for The Sims franchise, not just by how EA and Maxis have marketed the game, but in the title’s name itself. The “Rene” in the game’s title is meant to be reminiscent of “renaissance” and “rebirth.” As EA and Maxis have described the name, it is a “renewed commitment to The Sims’ bright future.”

Leaks Have Shed Even More Light on Project Rene

One leaker who claimed to be a playtester for Project Rene remains a bit skeptical that the upcoming title promises a bright future for The Sims franchise. The playtester leaked their Project Rene experience on Reddit, which commenters described as “The Sims Mobile but worse.” However, the multiplayer gameplay that the leaker describes is important information to compare to existing Sims games.


Allegedly, The Hub is a centralized location in Project Rene that features several marketplaces for DLC and custom content, an invitation system for other players, and a season pass. This seems to act as a sort of main menu for multiplayer gameplay as a whole. Additionally, the leaker alleges that Simmers can invite other players to their neighborhood. It has been unconfirmed if neighborhoods are worlds where game play occurs or a build system. If multiplayer play is available for either of these options, Project Rene’s possibilities are pretty vast.

Project Rene Can Stand Out From Other Simulation Games


Multiplayer in general sets Project Rene apart from other simulation games on the market. Though other simulation games may allow players to visit other players’ houses, towns, and so forth, Project Rene seems to deliberately be focusing on player interaction. This could include working in careers, shopping, and playing mini-games with other players rather than with Townies like in The Sims’ previous installments.

The simulation game market has become more and more competitive in the past few years, especially with the surge in popularity of the “cozy game” genre. The Sims is an icon of this genre, with other simulation games looking to The Sims for inspiration. Because of its notoriety, the next game in The Sims franchise has to make it stand out in some way. Simply adding another “The Sims” game would not be as beneficial to the franchise in the long run as the addition of an entirely new game.


Therefore, Project Rene is the perfect way for The Sims to look to the future, as an innovative multiplayer experiment, rather than just a Sims 4 follow-up. Project Rene has a good shot at being successful if it fulfills its promises of multiplayer gameplay and cross-platform capabilities.

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