Speculations of a Sims 5 sequel have been circulating for years, but it seems EA is taking a radical departure from the series’ numbered releases. Read on to learn more about EA’s plan on expanding ‘The Sims Universe.’
EA Plans on Expanding ‘The Sims Universe’
The Sims 4 Remains the Foundation of the Franchise
For decades, Simmers have eagerly awaited news of the next numbered installment in the life simulation franchise. However, Electronic Arts (EA) has thrown a curveball, announcing a bold new direction for The Sims that breaks free from the traditional numbered sequel model. Instead of a traditional Sims 5, the future lies in an expansive platform encompassing continual updates for four games: The Sims 4, Project Rene, MySims, and The Sims FreePlay.
Gone are the days of linear, numbered releases. EA acknowledged the dedication players have poured into The Sims 4 over its ten-year lifespan. "The way to think about it is, historically, ‘The Sims’ franchise started with ‘Sims 1’ and then ‘Sims 2,’ ‘3’ and ‘4.’ And they were seen as replacements for the previous products," EA’s Vice President Kate Gorman said in a recent interview with Variety. "What we’re really working with our community on is this new era of ‘The Sims.’ We are not going to be working on replacements of previous projects; we’re only going to be adding to our universe."
Gorman continued to explain that this new approach will enable more frequent updates, diverse gameplay experiences, cross-media content, and a wealth of new offerings from the company. "But what this is to say is, the way we’re going to do things going forward is a little different," Gorman continued. "It’s really exciting and it’s really the most expansive iteration of ‘The Sims’ yet."
Despite launching a decade ago, The Sims 4 and its numerous expansions have remained a beloved franchise. It’s so beloved, in fact, that EA reported Simmers have spent more than 1.2 billion hours playing the game in 2024 alone, and the year isn’t even over yet. However, many fans were concerned that the upcoming sequel might render the current game obsolete.
Fortunately, EA has reassured players that the core game will receive ongoing updates, including bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements. To address the game’s technical issues, EA even assembled a dedicated team for it back in May.
Echoing this commitment, EA's entertainment and technology president, Laura Miele, stated during an investor presentation earlier today, according to PCGamer, that The Sims 4 will serve as the foundation for the series’ future growth. "We will be updating the core technology foundation for the product, and we will release fun and exciting content for many years to come," Miele said.
One of the ways EA plans on expanding their current lineup of Sims games is through the Sims Creator Kits, a new feature that will allow players to purchase digital content created by the game’s community.
"Our community is what makes ‘The Sims’ what it is today," Gorman explained. "Our players drive us to evolve and innovate the content we develop and how we engage with them. We know our players love the creators within our community, and we’re excited to expand how we support creators with ‘The Sims 4 Creator Kits.’"
While EA may still be in the early stages of developing the Creator Kits program, Gorman stated that the company is dedicated to ensuring that creators are fairly compensated for their work. "I can’t go into specific," Gorman continued, "but we worked closely with our initial creator partners to compensate them for their work and will continue to evolve that process alongside the program."
According to their website, The Sims 4 Creator Kits will start rolling out in November of this year across all Sims channels. It will also be made available alongside their current collections of Kits.
EA Teases Project Rene—It’s Not Sims 5, Sadly
While there have been rumors buzzing about The Sims 5, EA has further teased its next big project: Project Rene. And no, it’s not the long-awaited sequel, though it is certainly tantalizingly close.
EA describes Project Rene as a platform for players to "meet, connect, and share while playing together in an all-new world." To give fans a taste of what’s to come, a small, invite-only playtest is scheduled for this fall, but you can sign up for the chance to try the game in The Sims Labs. If you’re lucky enough to be selected, you’ll be among the first to experience the game’s multiplayer aspect—a feature that EA has not fully embraced since the closure of The Sims Online in 2008 and only revisited through The Sims FreePlay mobile game.
Teased in October 2022, Project Rene has since only held one closed playtest focused on furniture customization prior to the upcoming one.
"We have a lot of learnings from ‘The Sims Online.’ We know that there is an opportunity to play in a very social, real time, multiplayer environment within our gamespace," Gorman said to Variety. "We haven’t delivered that experience with ‘The Sims 4’ or any of our titles yet, so we’re looking at what that means and could look like. We know simulation is at the core of what we do, and we want to make sure our players still have that experience they want, but in a world with real players and NPCs."
Beyond this, EA is also counting down to their 25th anniversary in January 2025 with a special Behind The Sims presentation, where they’ll be sharing regular updates regarding the future of The Sims franchise.
The Sims Movie Will Include Easter Eggs and Lore, According to EA
In related news, EA has officially confirmed the film adaptation of The Sims. The movie, a joint venture with Amazon MGM Studios, is set to bring the franchise to the silver screen.
Gorman emphasized that the film is "very much rooted in ‘The Sims universe.’" EA aims to deliver an authentic Sims experience by partnering with the right collaborators to create a cultural impact and phenomenon akin to the Barbie movie. Leveraging the immense love and nostalgia for the Sims franchise, the film seeks to resonate with both existing fans and new audiences.
Margot Robbie’s production company, LuckyChap, is producing the film, while Kate Herron, known for her work on Loki, is set to direct and co-write the screenplay with Briony Redman. Herron will also be a director on the second season of The Last of Us TV show.
When Variety asked what the film’s story will be, Gorman said that "there will be a lot of lore" and easter eggs. "There will be Freezer Bunnies," Gorman continued. "I’m sure a pool without a ladder is somewhere in there, but we haven’t finalized any of those details. But… the idea is to say that it lives within this space. It’s a nod to all of the amazing play and creation and fun that people have had over the last 25 years within ‘The Sims.’"
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