Gameplay of EA's New The Sims 'Concept' Appears to Leak Online, and It's Not Going Down Well With Fans

A video allegedly showing the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern among fans about what it could mean for the beloved franchise.

Project Rene — a codename sometimes used interchangeably with The Sims 5, though EA insists it’s a spin-off — has been in development for several years. But early footage from a game called "City Life Game With Friends" has led many players to believe this might be the next entry in the series.

The video itself runs for a full 20 minutes and shows the player navigating text prompts to choose their outfit, hairstyle, watch, activities, and more. They then spawn into a sunlit Plaza de Poupon, where they buy food and interact with locals before heading to work at an outdoor café.

Characters are clearly referred to as Sims throughout the playtest, speak in Simlish, and wear the iconic Plumbob.

"EA clearly wants to phase out traditional Sims games and steer players toward a mobile-style experience. So in their mind, a reboot means this — at least that’s what I THINK."

"This is not going to be for me, I can tell already," said another. "It feels too basic, and I don’t want to play The Sims on my phone."

"The funny thing is, creating a PC and mobile cross-compatible Sims game isn’t a bad idea," posited a fan. "But EA seems convinced that mobile games have to look ugly. They’re chasing every design trend from the past decade — and it’s made this game look dated even before it’s released."

"The way The Sims was a sharp satire on capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness... And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness," suggested another.

Project Rene — the codenamed project initially believed to be The Sims 5 until EA distanced itself from those rumors — was first teased in 2022 during a Behind the Sims Summit. It’s a free-to-play Sims game featuring multiplayer inspired by Animal Crossing and Among Us. It hasn’t been officially revealed or given a release date, but EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since its announcement, with the latest session likely responsible for these recent leaks.

The name Rene was chosen to reflect terms like "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," representing the developer’s renewed commitment to The Sims’ future.

Last October, however, images of Project Rene leaked from a closed online test, triggering complaints about the art style, limited features, and the inclusion of microtransactions. The addition of a café drew the most skepticism, largely because of its striking similarities to 2018’s The Sims Mobile. It was then that EA clarified Project Rene isn’t The Sims 5 but would instead be a separate "cosy, social game" released under The Sims brand.

Don’t forget that The Burglar, a familiar sight for longtime fans of older Sims games, quietly returned in the latest update to The Sims 4.