The Sims 5 – currently known as Project Rene – is easily one of the most exciting upcoming games on the horizon, especially for existing fans of the series and simulation games in general.
Given that The Sims 4 released all the way back in 2014, players have been waiting quite some time for the next installment. While the fourth main installment is now free to play, and continues to receive various expansions and packs to add new content (such as the Horse Ranch and For Rent expansions), all eyes are still on Project Rene, which is set to be a “next-generation Sims game.” Ultimately, it’s the future of the eternally-popular simulation series, so of course fans are keen to find out more.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing we still don’t know when Project Rene is set to be released, but EA Maxis has gradually been releasing more and more information about it, and it’s sounding incredibly exciting. From all the in-game footage we’ve seen so far, to details on its planned free-to-download release, and the team’s hopes of including multiplayer in some capacity, here’s everything we know so far about Project Rene.
The Sims 5: cut to the chase
- What is it? The next generation of The Sims
- When does it come out? TBC
- Which can I play it on? PC and mobile confirmed so far
- Who’s making it? Maxis Studios (EA)
The Sims 5 platforms
The Sims 5 will be available on PC and mobile, according to EA Maxis. It’s not been confirmed if it will eventually come to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, despite it being a “next-generation Sims game”. Historically, main entries in The Sims series have been released on PC first and then are reworked slightly for consoles and other systems.
The Sims 5 trailers
The latest teaser for The Sims 5 was released on June 27, 2023 and provides a behind-the-scenes look at Project Rene.
The video shows early concepts for Project Rene, including customization of hairstyles, a look at lighting, as well as prototypes for Sims’ behavior out in the world. We also got a look at how the team is fine-tuning animation and expressions, watch it below.
The Sims 5 gameplay
Thanks to the Behind The Sims video which was released in January 2023, we were given a better understanding of what The Sims 5‘s in-game action could look like. In the video, an interview with Project Rene‘s game director, Grant Rodiek, suggested that cross-platform compatibility, multiplayer, and greater customization will be critical. However, it’s worth noting that this video has since been unlisted on YouTube, so therefore the information within it should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt.
With cross-platform compatibility, “you can now play The Sims, wherever you are without barriers, without restrictions,” Rodiek said at the time. Playing across different platforms will be fluid as you can instantly switch between PC and mobile. However, the experience on a PC will be “the true rich experience you’re used to.”
What was shown of the in-game footage amounted to a short demo showing furniture and other objects being edited. There appears to be much more freedom this time around, with furniture able to be placed close to other objects, and sometimes at diagonals to other large pieces of furniture.
Patterns and color palettes have many more options too, with individual pieces of furniture having separate selections for different components, like the headboard on a bed, for example. This all points to a much more robust editor when compared to what we saw in The Sims 4, so hopefully it all ends up coming to fruition when The Sims 5 does eventually launch.
Prototypes have been shown off for character interactions and animation, as well as scripting for the schedules of individual Sims. These are super early in terms of development footage, and don’t yet reveal much about the action that will be showcased in The Sims 5.
The Sims 5 multiplayer
The Sims 5 will have a greater emphasis on multiplayer rather than just single-player. “We think we could be both”, Rodiek said. However, “one thing to keep in mind is that Project Rene is not an MMO [massively multiplayer online game]”.
At present, it’s unclear just how many multiplayer options will be available to players when The Sims 5 does launch. At the very least, the development team is clearly considering multiplayer, and the game will have some functionality to interact with your friends.
The Sims 5 latest news
Project Rene will be free to download
In September 2023, it was confirmed in a blog post (and explained in another Behind the Sims video) that Project Rene will be free to download when it launches. The blog post explained: “When Project Rene is ready and fully open to players, you will be able to join, play and explore it without a subscription, core game purchase or energy mechanics. We want playing to be super easy for you to invite or join friends and experience new features, stories and challenges.”
Project Rene won’t replace The Sims 4
In the same September 2023 blog post mentioned above, it was also revealed that Project Rene will “coexist” alongside The Sims 4. “We will continue to support both at the same time and will plan to bring more exciting content to The Sims 4 community for the foreseeable future,” the post explained.
Project Rene will be regularly updated with new content
The September 2023 blog post also confirmed plans to sell content and packs for Project Rene, as well as adding regular updates to the core game. The post reads: “We want Project Rene to be strong and cohesive from the start. While it won’t begin with everything you have in The Sims 4, we plan to add new experiences and content to Project Rene over time.”
The Sims 5 will include multiplayer
The vice president of franchise creative on The Sims, Lyndsay Pearson, has confirmed that the team “definitely wants to introduce multiplayer” in the upcoming game, which is supported by the initial announcement suggesting players will be able to come together to design certain areas and houses rather than the entire experience being solitary.
Will it make use of AI technology?
A patent filed by EA back in April 2020 and approved in October 2021 reveals AI technology could be used in The Sims to turn pictures of people into in-game characters.
Reported by Sims Community, the patent discusses the AI technology, explaining that it will allow players to upload photographs of themselves or characters, which can then be converted into an accurate Sim.
EA owns the patent outright, so we’ll have to wait and see how and if they’ll implement the tech. It also isn’t clear if this will be implemented in The Sims 4, which is expected to have fresh content churned out for a few years yet, or if development is far enough away for The Sims 5 to be where it makes its debut.
That’s everything you need to know about The Sims 5. For more on PC gaming, be sure to check out our list of the best simulation games you can play right now or the best multiplayer games on PC.