What Is the New Sims 5 ‘Project Rene’? Theory Explained

The next generation of The Sims franchise is officially on its way, though it’s still in the earliest stages of development. At the Behind the Sims Summit on Oct. 18, 2022, EA announced Project Rene, which they say will “fundamentally evolve” the ways Sims think, feel, and behave, and players experience the game. Here is everything you need to know about what is Sims 5 Project Rene.

Is The Sims 5 Coming Out Soon?

EA says that Project Rene will be a “next-generation game and creative platform” that will reimagine the Sims in an innovative new way. While fans of the franchise are naturally calling this The Sims 5, EA stops short of that, consistently referring to it as Project Rene.

The name is derived from words like renaissance and renewal, suggesting that EA sees Project Rene as a rebirth of the beloved franchise. Project Rene may still become The Sims 5, but EA leaves room for other possibilities.

Creative Flexibility

According to EA, one of the primary aims of Project Rene is to give new and experienced Sims players more creative ways to customize their worlds. EA suggests that players can edit in-game objects and furniture to an astonishing degree of detail with Project Rene. 

In The Sims 3, Simmers could customize every color of every object in Build Mode and Create-A-Sim. The Sims 4 lost that functionality, opting for a limited number of styles that vary from object to object. 

Sims players will get that ability back with Project Rene and other exciting innovations. Early behind-the-scenes gameplay shows a player adding throw pillows to an in-game couch, rotating them in multiple directions. This demonstrates an unprecedented level of customization that promises to be an essential element of Project Rene.

Multiplayer and Multiplatform

Players can also share their custom creations on a public gallery or directly with friends if they choose, as they can in the Sims 4 gallery. But with Project Rene, Simmers can build and play their Sim worlds on any platform. 

At the Behind the Sims Summit, developers customized a room on PC, and the changes to that room immediately appeared on the game’s mobile version. The Sims franchise has different iterations on multiple platforms, such as The Sims Mobile and The Sims FreePlay on mobile. Still, Project Rene will be the first time users can play the same household synced across multiple devices.

Innovative Development Process

This is the first time EA has announced a game so early in development. Project Rene is anticipated to release “in a few years,” so why are they releasing this information so early? 

Because in addition to innovating the way players interact with The Sims, EA wants to change how Simmers interact with the development process. EA says that they’re committed to keeping what works from previous Sims installments and moving the ball forward with help from fans of the franchise. Expect to hear more in the coming weeks and months about ways for new and experienced Sims players can get involved with Project Rene.

That is everything you need to know about what is Sims 5 Project Rene. Let us know in the comments! Before you go, be sure to check out our other coverage of the Behind The Sims Summit and info on the Overwolf Mod program.