Electronic Arts has announced a major shift in its game development strategy with the revelation of Project Rene, which was previously thought to be The Sims 5. Instead of a traditional sequel to the beloved The Sims 4, the company is exploring new avenues to expand the franchise across different games, genres, and platforms.
A recent blog post by EA mentioned that Project Rene is focused on creating innovative ways for friends to connect and play together in a brand new virtual world. This signals a potential shift towards multiplayer features for the first time since The Sims Online, an MMO released in 2002. EA also revealed plans for an invite-only multiplayer playtest through The Sims Labs program this fall.
In an interview with Variety, Kate Gorman, the general manager of The Sims franchise, explained the decision to move away from a conventional sequel. She emphasized that future releases will not replace The Sims 4 but will continue to build upon the existing experience without resetting player progress.
EA aims to introduce new gameplay features like events and narrative-driven storylines to The Sims series. The company also mentioned plans for “cozy games,” “mobile narrative games,” and regular updates for The Sims 4. With over 80 million players since its 2014 launch, The Sims 4 will receive ongoing content expansions, creator kits from the community, and official support from EA.
Gorman reassured fans that The Sims 4 will receive continued support, expansion packs, and updates. Addressing technical issues faced by the game on modern platforms, EA has formed a dedicated team to resolve player concerns, with the first set of fixes scheduled for release this week. Players can also expect a significant base game update before the release of the Life and Death expansion pack in October.
