A video purportedly from the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, stirring concerns among fans about the future direction of this beloved series. Known as Project Rene, often mistakenly referred to as The Sims 5, though EA clarifies it's a separate spin-off, this project has been in discussion for several years. A leaked early access video of a game called "City Life Game With Friends" has led many to believe it might be the next Sims installment.

The video itself, spanning 20 minutes, features a player navigating through text prompts to customize their character's outfit, hair, watch, and activities before entering a sunlit Plaza de Poupon. There, the player engages in buying food and socializing with locals, later transitioning to work at an outdoor café. The characters, referred to as Sims, speak in Simlish and are marked with the iconic Plumbob, further fueling speculation about its connection to The Sims franchise.

Another fan voiced their concern, stating, "This is not going to be for me, I can tell already. It just seems so basic and I don't want to play The Sims on my phone." Despite the criticism, some see potential, as one user suggested, "The funny thing is, making a PC/mobile cross-compatible Sims game isn't a bad idea. EA just believes that mobile games HAVE to be ugly for some reason. They're chasing all of the design trends of the past decade, but it means that this thing already looks dated and it's not even out yet."

Reflecting on the series' roots, another fan remarked, "The way The Sims was a literally [sic] satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness.... And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness."

Project Rene, initially teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit, is a free-to-play game with multiplayer elements inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although it hasn't been officially released or given a release date, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement. The latest playtest is believed to be the source of these recent leaks.

The name "Rene" embodies concepts of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developers' renewed commitment to the future of The Sims. However, last October, leaked images from a closed online test sparked criticism regarding the game's art style, limited features, and the inclusion of microtransactions. The addition of a café, reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile, drew particular skepticism. In response, EA clarified that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a distinct "cosy, social game" within The Sims franchise.

Meanwhile, fans of the series were reminded of the past with the return of The Burglar in the latest update for The Sims 4, bringing a touch of nostalgia to the current iteration of the game.