Maxis has decided not to develop The Sims 5 and will instead concentrate on further expanding The Sims 4.
EA Vice President and General Manager of The Sims, Kate Gorman, clarified that rather than creating a new game from scratch and ‘replacing’ previous titles, the focus will be on enhancing The Sims experience across various platforms.
This includes offering new ways to play, looking for transmedia opportunities, and providing a wide range of offerings within the Sims universe.
One such development is Project Rene, which was previously thought to be the next main installment in the series. However, it has now been revealed that Project Rene is a separate initiative aimed at introducing multiplayer functionality to the Sims series.
Despite this, reports suggest that The Sims 4 will also receive a multiplayer mode in a future update, leaving some uncertainty about Project Rene’s exact role and integration into the Sims ecosystem. EA has promised that more details will be revealed soon.
With the plans for The Sims 5 shelved, the series will instead “move beyond linear, sequential releases and provide more options for players than ever before,” as stated in an official blog post.
This evolution not only includes ongoing support for The Sims 4 but also encompasses a variety of new games and experiences.
These will span different categories within the simulated life genre, such as cozy games, social and collaborative gameplay, and mobile narrative games.
Although a new Sims title is not on the horizon, Gorman assures that EA will “continue to deliver HD simulation experiences and meet the expectations people would have for a new installment.” What these experiences will entail remains to be seen.
This marks a significant shift for the series, which will continue to build on the foundations established in 2014. While the specifics of Project Rene and other upcoming spin-offs are yet to be fully revealed, the current focus is on expanding and enhancing the existing game.
