Many were expecting it, and yet there was not a word about The Sims 5 during this Behind the Sims event, held on October 18, 2022. Fans were furious and impatient: when will we see The Sims 5, and above all, what will this long-awaited opus look like? Yet, during this conference, the subject was still not broached.
Instead, Lindsay Pearson, VP Creative, unveiled Project René. A project"still in its initial development phase", she insists.
In a short video, we discover the project on which the development team is working. Lindsay Pearson promises that the project will bring new life to the Sims franchise, while retaining the original spirit of the game.
(Re)discover the Project René presentation (from 26:50 minutes):
We discover the "future of The Sims", with powerful tools and important, meaningful stories. In this short video extract, we see the return of the"color wheel", a tool often requested since the release of The Sims 4.
Construction mode evolves, with a tool that lets you change and customize the shape of objects, but also their colors, the patterns used, the materials, the angle in which they are installed in the building...
This René project would also enable multiplayer play with friends, and perhaps even crossplay, i.e. being able to play with friends, whatever platform they're playing on (PC or console).
The video also shows a brand-new game mode, which allows you to play simultaneously from a computer or phone, on the same game. So you could start a game on the PC, and continue it immediately afterwards on mobile, while on the move. Lindsay Pearson makes it clear that this system is in the testing phase, so it may not appear in the final phase.
Behind the Sims, September 12, 2023:
Since that first conference, the Sims team has unveiled new information about Project René. At each presentation, the emphasis is on the multiplayer side of this future game. With this in mind, and with the aim of having the widest possible player base, Maxis unveiled a surprising but exciting piece of information.
On September 12, 2023, during a "Behind the Sims" event, we learned that the base game of this next opus will be entirely free for all, as soon as it is fully ready. The developer promises that "everyone will be able to start playing and exploring without subscription, base game purchase or energy-based mechanics."
Note, however, that Project René will not be released in its final form: like The Sims 4, this fifth game will evolve over time, gradually gaining content and core mechanics. Remember: in 2014, The Sims 4 had no swimming pool, no toddlers, no basements or family tree... What's more, the Projet René game should also have plenty of DLC, but in a different format, Maxis assures us.
Finally, the developers assure us that the arrival of Project Rene does not mark the end of The Sims 4: " Project Rene and The Sims 4 will exist side by side.We will continue to support both games at the same time, and plan to bring more exciting content to The Sims 4 community in the near future. "
Over the next few years, more information should be shared about the evolution of this project. However, it's very likely that this game won't see the light of day for several years yet, as development is still in its infancy.
