Project Rene: How EA is Reimagining The Sims for a New Era of Gaming

The Future of The Sims Universe

Project Rene is not The Sims 5, but rather a new multiplayer online spin-off that will be developed alongside The Sims 4, which will continue to receive updates and expansions as the main core experience.

A New Direction for the Franchise

According to EA, this marks “a new era of The Sims” where they’re “not going to be working on replacements of previous projects” but instead “adding to our universe.” The game will adopt a free-to-play model, with additional content and expansions available for purchase, ensuring the base game remains accessible to everyone.

Revolutionary Features

Project Rene introduces unprecedented furniture customization, allowing players to position home contents in any way they desire – at a slant, on their side, tilted, or overlapped – all without requiring cheats. Individual pieces can be customized far beyond just color and pattern.

The game will feature more dynamic worlds, with Sims following their own work schedules and routines in more open neighbourhoods. EA and Maxis have confirmed that players will be able to build apartments and spaces together, opening up new ways to play, tell stories, and create dream buildings with others.

Development Status and Timeline

Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, Project Rene’s development is reportedly progressing smoothly, maintaining its vision as a fully developed online Sims game. While a launch isn’t expected in 2025, EA will likely share more news, milestones, and information about Project Rene throughout the year.

Cross-Platform Integration

EA considers Project Rene one of its biggest growth opportunities, with plans to offer life simulation, multiplayer capabilities, and mobile expressions. The company envisions The Sims as a significant ecosystem with multiple experiences, including cozy games and Nintendo releases in Asia.

While the game won’t launch with everything available in The Sims 4, EA plans to add new experiences and content over time. They’re also rethinking their content delivery strategy – for example, basic weather features might be added to the core game for free, while specialized content like winter sports activities could be available as paid downloadable content.