A video allegedly showcasing the next iteration of The Sims has surfaced online, sparking concern and debate among fans about the future direction of the beloved franchise. The footage, believed to be from Project Rene—sometimes referred to as The Sims 5, though EA insists it's a separate spin-off—has led many to speculate that this could be the next chapter in The Sims saga.

The 20-minute video, titled "City Life Game With Friends," displays a player navigating through text-based choices to customize their avatar's outfit, hair, accessories, and activities. The gameplay then transitions to a vibrant Plaza de Poupon, where the player purchases food and interacts with other characters, eventually heading to work at an outdoor café. Throughout the video, characters are referred to as Sims, speak in Simlish, and feature the iconic Plumbob, further fueling speculation about its connection to The Sims series.

"EA clearly wants to kill off normal Sims games and push people toward the mobile-style experience. So in their mind, a reboot literally means this — at least that’s what I THINK," the fan continued.

"This is not going to be for me, I can tell already," another player remarked. "It just seems so basic and I don't want to play The Sims on my phone."

"The funny thing is, making a PC/mobile cross-compatible Sims game isn't a bad idea," suggested a different fan. "EA just believes that mobile games HAVE to be ugly for some reason. They're chasing all of the design trends of the past decade, but it means that this thing already looks dated and it's not even out yet."

"The way The Sims was literally a satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness... And this is where the Sims ended up. Endless consumption-as-happiness," another fan lamented.

Project Rene, initially rumored to be The Sims 5, was first hinted at during the 2022 Behind the Sims Summit. EA clarified that Project Rene is a free-to-play game inspired by the multiplayer elements of games like Animal Crossing and Among Us. Although no official release date has been announced, EA has been conducting small, invite-only playtests since the project's announcement, with the latest test likely being the source of these recent leaks.

The name "Rene" embodies themes of "renewal, renaissance, and rebirth," symbolizing the developer's renewed commitment to the future of The Sims. However, last October, leaked images from a closed online test of Project Rene drew criticism for its art style, limited features, and microtransactions. The inclusion of a café, reminiscent of 2018's The Sims Mobile, raised particular skepticism among fans. In response, EA reiterated that Project Rene is not The Sims 5 but a distinct "cosy, social game" within The Sims franchise.

Meanwhile, fans of the older Sims games were delighted to see the return of The Burglar in the latest update for The Sims 4, bringing back a nostalgic element to the series.