A video purportedly taken from the subsequent iteration of The Sims has popped up on-line, and followers have expressed their concern about what it might imply for the much-loved sequence.
Challenge Rene – the codename typically used interchangeably with The Sims 5, though EA maintains Challenge Rene is, actually, a spin-off challenge – has been effervescent round for just a few years now, however early entry footage from a sport entitled “Metropolis Life Recreation With Pals” has many gamers considering that this might properly be the subsequent Sims sport.
The video itself is a full 20 minutes lengthy and exhibits the participant clicking by means of textual content prompts to choose their outfit, hair, watch, actions, and so on. He then spawns right into a sunlit Plaza de Poupon the place he buys some meals and mingles with the locals. He later goes to work within the out of doors café.
Characters are clearly referred to as Sims all through the playtest, discuss in Simlish, and are adorned with The Sims’ tell-tale Plumbob.
“I’m terribly upset with Challenge Rene. Sure, I do know, in accordance to EA, ‘this isn’t the ultimate sport.’ Is that this a joke or what?” said one unhappy player on The Sims’ subreddit on a put up entitled “I feel Challenge Rene is a redflag (I hope not)” that has been upvoted a whole bunch of occasions.
“EA clearly desires to kill off regular Sims video games and push folks towards the mobile-style expertise. So of their thoughts, a reboot actually means this — not less than that’s what I THINK.”
“This isn’t going to be for me, I can inform already,” stated another. “It simply appears so fundamental and I do not need to play The Sims on my telephone.”
“The humorous factor is, making a PC/cellular cross-compatible Sims sport is not a foul concept,” posited a fan. “EA simply believes that cellular video games HAVE to be ugly for some cause. They’re chasing all of the design traits of the previous decade, but it surely implies that this factor already seems to be dated and it is not even out but.”
“The method The Sims was a actually [sic] satire about capitalist suburban consumption-as-happiness…. And that is the place the Sims ended up. Infinite consumption-as-happiness,” suggested one other.
Challenge Rene — the codenamed sport initially thought to be The Sims 5 till EA distanced itself from these rumors — was first teased in 2022 throughout a Behind the Sims Summit. It’s a free-to-play Sims sport that options multiplayer impressed by Animal Crossing and Amongst Us. It hasn’t but been formally revealed or obtained a launch date, however EA has been holding small, invite-only playtests for the sport since its announcement, with the sport’s newest playtest presumably spawning these latest leaks.
The identify Rene was chosen as a result of it references phrases like “renewal, renaissance, and rebirth” that “signify the developer’s renewed dedication for the Sims’ vibrant future.”
Final October, nonetheless, photos of Challenge Rene leaked from a closed on-line take a look at, prompting complaints in regards to the artwork type, restricted options, and the use of microtransactions. It was the addition of a café that drew essentially the most skepticism, primarily due to the smiliaries to 2018’s The Sims Cellular. It was then that EA stated Challenge Rene was not The Sims 5 however would, actually, be a special “cosy, social sport” launched below The Sims franchise.
Do not forget that The Burglar, a well-recognized sight for these of us who’ve frolicked with any of the older Sims video games snuck again into our lives as half of the most recent replace for The Sims 4.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and marketing consultant. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.