If you’re a fan of gaming series The Sims, you might have heard the phrase Project Rene on your travels. Dubbed as the future of The Sims, it’s developer Maxis’ next big project that looks to supercede the current game that fans are enjoying, The Sims 4.. While fans have grown to adore the fourth iteration of the series with it estimated to have sold over 70 million copies as of April 2023, it’s been over a decade since it was released in 2014. EA is still supporting it with new expansion packs, but the question of the franchises future remains on everyone’s lips.. It would appear that Project Rene is the answer, a seemingly multiplayer-focused endeavour that VP Franchise Creative Lyndsay Pearson describes as ‘a new way to play The Sims’. Here’s everything we know about the project so far, including known gameplay features and when it might finally hit shelves.. Is Project Rene the same as The Sims 5?. First off, it’s important to note that neither EA nor Maxis has ever referred to Project Rene as The Sims 5. This might be to discourage fans from holding off on purchasing The Sims 4 packs, but it also might mean that the team is aiming to deliver something of a soft reboot, or a platform for The Sims to continue into the future indefinitely.. At the same time, Project Rene will certainly be a Sims game through and through. First announced in 2022, new development updates have always arrived adjacent to other updates regarding The Sims 4.. Whatever Maxis has up its sleeve, it sounds like the project is aiming to be the definitive place to play The Sims, with Pearson saying: “We’ve shared a few of those differences that we’re already exploring, such as the ability to play with friends and across devices.” This sounds like Project Rene will almost certainly be multiplayer focused with cross-play functionality built into the game’s core.. Pearson is also clear that Project Rene will not replace The Sims 4. “Project Rene and The Sims 4 are going toe continue to exist side by side. We plan to support both at the same time, and we’re going to continue to bring even more exciting content to The Sims 4 for the foreseeable future,” Pearson continues.. Don’t worry about having to purchase an additional game alongside The Sims 4, though. Pearson clarifies, “We intend for Project Rene to be free to download, and that means that when it’s ready and fully open to our players, you’ll be ale to join and play and explore Project Rene without a subscription, without core game purchase or energy mechanics.”. New content will be sold in packs, so you’ll still need to fork out a bit of cash to get some new features in Project Rene. However, some updates will also be free, bringing new gameplay features to Project Rene over time.. Project Rene will have more of a multiplayer focus than The Sims 4. (Image: EA). Project Rene release date speculations. EA continues to refrain from giving any glimpses as to when we might see Project Rene hit our screens. However, Maxis has opened up some early playtesting for select lucky players to try an early version of the game ahead of launch.. While playtests usually indicate that a game is far ahead into production, that’s not the case with Project Rene. Pearson has remarked that these playtests “marks the start of our journey over the next few years” and that “this is super early for us, and we’ve never shared information about our games years before launch to the world.”. What’s more, Project Rene hasn’t come up in any of EA’s recent earnings calls, meaning it’s unlikely to be on the horizon for at least a year or so. At least for now, The Sims 4 continues to be the best way to play The Sims.. Project Rene will have updated hairstyles for each Sim. (Image: EA). How to sign up for Project Rene playtests. If you want to get a glimpse of Project Rene early, you can try to get into one of EA’s playtest sessions. These don’t run all the time, but if you’re chosen to take part then you’ll be given a playtest version of the game to download and provide feedback to the development team.. Here’s what you need to do to have a chance of gaining access:. Head to the EA Playtesting website. Create an account and sign in. Accept the terms and conditions. Click ‘Get Started’. Choose ‘The Sims Lab Insider Playtesting Signup’. Fill out the questionnaire to register your interest. As mentioned, playtests don’t run all the time and as such there might not currently be one to register for. In this case, you’ll need to keep coming back to check if a new Project Rene playtest is available.. If you’re interested in picking up some new expansion packs for The Sims 4, you can currently grab a bunch for £6 in a deal to celebrate the franchise’s 25th birthday. I’ve rounded up the best deals here.
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