Highlights
- The Sims 5 may not be what fans expected as recent news suggests that Project Rene could be a different Sims-related property or spin-off.
- The Sims 4 has shown a lot of longevity with continuous updates and a growing playerbase, but after nine years, players are eager to see more drastic improvements in the next game.
- Project Rene's development hints at a new direction for The Sims with the incorporation of online multiplayer elements, potentially allowing players to share designs, items, and play together in the same neighborhood or household.
There have been several rumors surrounding The Sims 5, but the latest news reveals that it may not be what fans expected after all. With almost a decade having passed since the most recent game in the series, The Sims 5 has been expected to be the next step forward for The Sims. However, The Sims 5 is still likely a long ways away, while Project Rene could turn out as an entirely different Sims-related property. With news still being fresh, there isn't a lot to work off of, but there's plenty of reason for fans to speculate.
If nothing else, The Sims 4's latest Stuff Pack release shows how much longevity games in the series have. The Sims 4 was released in 2014, and there has been a series of content updates being released for it ever since. The game becoming free to play last year likely only increased its already-substantial playerbase, while paid content packs continued to provide revenue. That said, after nine years, it's no surprise that players would be wondering what's next for the series. Even though The Sims 4 has expended a lot, the next game in the series can provide more drastic improvements, explaining the anticipation.
The Sims' Latest Project May Not Be the Sequel That Was Expected
For some time, fans have known of Maxis and EA's Project Rene, which was assumed by many to be a codename for The Sims 5. After all, it was described as the next step for The Sims franchise to take, so one could naturally assume that it was going to be The Sims 5, just not officially announced as such yet. Considering that among the details mentioned were improved customization options, which is a general benchmark for new Sims entries, it felt like a fair appraisal to make. Recent revelations about Project Rene could point towards a new direction, though.
Among other details that were shared in recent days, the latest update on Project Rene's development may prove that the game won't be The Sims 5 after all. Most notably, it was stated that the game is not intended to replace The Sims 4, but instead exist alongside it. This could be taken as an indication that rather than being the next mainline entry, Project Rene will be more like a spin-off. Instead of being the next numbered entry, it could be a distinctly different game built off a similar formula. The Sims has done spin-offs before, and Project Rene just may be the latest.
One major hint towards Project Rene's new direction could be the idea of online multiplayer in The Sims. According to the developers, one of Project Rene's planned innovations is incorporating multiplayer elements into The Sims, and there are a few ways that such a move could go. On the basest level, players could potentially share designs, items, and even Sims with each other. Project Rene could also go even further and let two players play in the same in-game neighborhood, or even the same household. Rather than a direct sequel, Project Rene looks to be The Sims' version of an online multiplayer game.
While Project Rene's aim looks more clear now, there is still a lot to be uncovered. More news regarding The Sims 5 will make Project Rene's place in the series more clear, as well as the sequel's own release date. In fact, it's still possible for Project Rene to be renamed The Sims 5 in the future, or to any other title. As it stands, Project Rene seems much more likely to be a spin-off that will take The Sims' experience in a new direction. Project Rene may not be The Sims 5, but that doesn't mean that it won't be interesting.