Although The Sims 4 still thrives 10 years after its initial release, developer Maxis and publisher Electronic Arts are actively working on Project Rene, the code name for what The Sims 5Maxis is “in a very early stage of development” of The Sims 5 from 2023according to a blog post on the Electronic Arts website.
However, the game is already far enough along that Maxis was able to conduct small playtests focusing on interior design and furniture as early as 2022 – the same year the company announced the game’s development. Maxis and Electronic Arts intend to keep this up and conduct small playtests throughout development.
“This is how the best games are created, hand in hand with the players,” Game director Gane Rodiek wrote in 2023“It is such a valuable tool that will help us make Project Rene something truly special. But!– it is a long, complicated process.”
So far, the developer published four separate videos who talk about the latest developments in Project Rene. The broadcasts are an unexpected and transparent way for Maxis to get players excited about the next generation of The Sims. There is still a lot to learn about The Sims 5including the ever-important release date, but we already know a lot.
Let’s catch up.
Why is it called Project Rene?
Project Rene is the codename for the next Sims game. We technically don’t even have confirmation that this game will be called The Sims 5 — only that it is the next generation of The Sims. Whatever the name, it will not remain Project Rene; Codenames are standard in the industry, but the team specifically chose this codename because it reflects words like “renewal, renaissance, rebirth,” said Lyndsay Pearson, who runs The Sims franchise. in a show called “Behind the Sims”“It represents our renewed commitment to The Sims,” she added.
When will The Sims 5 to be published?
Maxis and Electronic Arts have no release window for The Sims 5 — they just said that it is still in a very early stage of development. One should not expect The Sims 5 will be on the market for a few more years, but there may be opportunities for early access periods.
“However, there is still so much work left for the Rene project,” Grant said in a 2023 blog post. “We haven’t shared our simulation experiences or character and clothing customization yet – not to mention new versions of housing customization and additional social game experiences. All of this is slowly being built, shared, tested, optimized, improved, reduced. And we intend to develop it hand in hand with our players.”
Is The Sims 5 play for free?
Maxis made The Sims 4 free to play in 2022, long after the game’s lifespan; The Sims 4 was published in 2014. The Sims 5 will be available for free download from the start, Pearson said in an episode of Behind The Sims from September 2023.
“This means that when it’s finished and fully accessible to our players, you’ll be able to join Project Rene, play it and explore it without having a subscription, without purchasing the base game or energy mechanics,” Pearson said. The Sims 5How The Sims 4will have paid content, but Pearson said the content distribution of the new game will be slightly different. Her example was the weather – in The Sims 4They needed the $40 Seasons Expansion Pass to have any weather at all. But The Sims 5 would come with basic weather data and the paid content would expand on that – so if there was snow in the base game, the expansion would let you go ice skating or build a snowman, she said.
Pearson said Maxis wants to “lower the barriers to play” to give players access to the broadest shared systems. One should not expect to start with everything that is currently in The Sims 4However.
Does The Sims 5 do you have a multiplayer mode?
The Sims 5 will have multiplayer, but Rodiek dampened expectations in an episode of “Behind The Sims” from January 2023. “You have to remember that Project Rene is not an MMO,” Rodiek said. “It’s not this public, shared space where everything you do, you always do it with other people. You can play alone, on your terms, and then again, if you want, on your terms, you can invite others to play with you.”
Where can I play The Sims 5?
Maxis and Electronic Arts have not yet confirmed where exactly you can play The Sims 5only that it will be available for Windows PCs and mobile devices. Additionally, there will be cross-platform saving between the two options: “With Project Rene, you can play on a PC, put it away, and pick up right where you left off on a mobile device.” According to a blog post on the Electronic Arts websiteThe developer is still working on “tailoring the experience per platform,” meaning how the game will change, if at all, between PC and mobile based on performance on the platforms.
How will the gameplay compare to The Sims 4?
Maxis and Electronic Arts said in his third Behind The Sims video from September 2022 The Sims 5 will feel “Simsy” as players will dictate what their Sims do, “while simultaneously presenting gameplay choices differently.” There’s not a lot of information on what that means exactly, but some areas where you can expect to see changes include animation, graphics, socialization, and Sim routines.
“The vision for the animation is based on the motto ‘Read the Room’. That is, we want players to know how our Sims are feeling and what they are thinking just by their behavior.” Maxis wrote on his blog. “This means we support a variety of attitudes, emotions, and postures that need to work with different objects and socialization features.” The developer expects this to extend to routines as well, improving the way Sims “live at home and in a larger neighborhood.”
When it comes to customization, you can expect more details everywhere. The first playtest focused on customizing and designing furniture, and the first Behind The Sims shows a little about how this works. There is a lot of flexibility in terms of color and design, and also how objects are placed in the world. For example, the clip shows a Sim tinkering with a sofa: He was able to change the colors and patterns on the sofa, but also adjust various details, such as the shape or number of cushions. He was also able to place and move cushions on the sofa.
How about The Sims 4?
The Sims 4 will not die if The Sims 5 is published. Maxis said Project Rene and The Sims 4 will coexist: “We will continue to support both simultaneously and plan to bring even more exciting content The Sims 4 community for the foreseeable future.”
We cannot say how long Maxis will continue to support The Sims 4 When The Sims 5 comes out, but it’s safe to say it won’t be dropped immediately.
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