Project Rene: What We Know About the Anticipated Sims 5

Ethan James 06 Jul 2023

The highly anticipated fifth installment of The Sims, currently known as Project Rene, is in its prototyping phase and has yet to secure a release date. The Sims franchise has a significant legacy to uphold as one of the most popular PC games since its first iteration. The developers seem to aim high for The Sims 5, hinting at more extensive customization features and possible multiplayer functionality. Though the wait may be long, here's a comprehensive overview of what we know so far about Project Rene, including glimpses of gameplay, speculations about its release, and the latest news.

While a specific release date or window hasn't been confirmed, the earliest expectation for The Sims 5 would be late 2024. EA Maxis announced during the Behind The Sims Summit Stream Event in October 2022 that the next-generation Sims game's early development stages had begun. This development journey will be shared with fans over the coming years alongside early access software for select groups. The Sims 5 is confirmed for PC and mobile, with the possibility of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S releases later on, aligning with the franchise's historical release pattern.

A Behind The Sims event in June 2023 showcased initial prototypes for lighting, hair customization, and more, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at Project Rene. Early concepts revealed include hairstyle customization, lighting, and Sims' behavior in the world, as well as animation and expression refinement. The gameplay appears to be more flexible, with greater freedom in furniture placement and a wider range of patterns and color palettes. Furniture pieces can even have separate selections for different components, like a bed's headboard. In this aspect, The Sims 5 seems to promise a more comprehensive editor than its predecessor.

Character interaction and animation prototypes, along with individual Sim schedule scripting, have also been demonstrated. However, these are still in the early stages of development and don't reveal much about the eventual gameplay in The Sims 5. The new game will also place a greater emphasis on multiplayer, although it is not intended to be a massively multiplayer online game (MMO). While the extent and nature of multiplayer options remain unclear, some form of interaction with friends is expected in the game.

EA filed a patent in April 2020, approved in October 2021, hinting at the possible use of AI technology in The Sims. This technology would enable players to convert photographs of themselves or characters into accurate Sims, enhancing the game's customization options. Whether this feature will be incorporated in The Sims 4 or debut in The Sims 5 is yet to be determined. As we wait for more information on The Sims 5, fans can only speculate and anticipate the next evolution of this beloved franchise.