While The Sims 4 continue to remain as popular as ever, many have grown tired of its limitations and eagerly await the arrival The Sims 5. After nearly a decade of DLCs and content drops, it would, of course, make sense that fans are hungry for something new.
Unfortunately, new leaks have surfaced regarding the next game, Project Rene, that, rather than exciting the community, have ignited an absolute firestorm of criticism instead. This leaked information has left many people so appalled at what EA seems to be cooking up that it begs the question of whether the franchise has lost its way entirely at this point.
Check any community discussion boards of this series, and you’ll only see a wave of frustration from different players for different things, from overpriced expansion packs to half-baked content that doesn’t do anything to innovate the core experience.
It has been this way for nearly all the time that the game has been out, and so many held on to the hope that Electronic Arts would actually lock in and that the next game in the franchise, a potential fifth game, would deliver a richer and more immersive experience.
But that hope was also quickly dashed when it was unceremoniously canceled. The new game in development, Project Rene, then, would soon turn out to be a multiplayer-focused, multiplatform experience (read: mobile game) rather than the beloved single-player sandbox.
The problem is that the heartbreak didn’t just stop there, as lo and behold, leaks showcasing gameplay footage of Project Rene have emerged, and it is about as bad as this franchise can possibly get.
NEW Project Rene (Formerly “The Sims 5”) Screenshots and Information
byu/DzXAnt22 inGamingLeaksAndRumours
With character models than look even blander than what we got in the 4th game, an art style that feels uglier than ever, and what looks to be a large focus on even more egregious microtransactions than before, it’s no surprise fans reacted the way that they did, throwing heaps upon heaps of negative comments to Electronic Arts and the project’s way.
In a way, the outcry reminds us of The Last of Us 2’s plot leak, which was a disaster so massive it torpedoed the game and Naughty Dog’s reputation before release.
Plus, that was Naughty Dog we were talking about back then, who still managed to deliver a competent narrative and experience in the eyes of many. Can the same be expected of Electronic Arts? Well, if you ask the community, absolutely not. Even if the game’s still in development, no one is expecting things to get better at all.
Plus, with all the excitement surrounding The Sims 5 turning to complete shock and disbelief, it is baffling that Electronic Arts still refuses to put its best foot forward with the series, especially when some of the strongest competitors to The Sims are right around the corner.
Look, part of the reason this franchise has grown the way it has is that no game has come close to rivaling it in life simulation. Many have tried, of course, but they faded away as quickly as they came.
That’s starting to change now, with games like Paralives and inZOI right around the corner. The latter, an upcoming life-sim from Krafton, in particular has caught the eyes of many and is now being seen as the one big potential savior of the genre.
From its stunning graphics, open-world environments, lifelike character interactions, innovative gameplay elements like active careers and drivable vehicles—elements the Electronic Arts franchise has long neglected—and a character creator demo that has already amassed 18,000 concurrent players on Steam, the game is undoubtedly going to kill The Sims if Project Rene doesn’t turn out to be anything more than what it currently is.
With all the excitement surrounding inZOI and the overwhelmingly negative reception to the Project Rene leaks, The Sims might be facing its biggest threat yet. Unless EA seriously ups its game, the franchise could be in real trouble.
But with all that said, what are your thoughts on these leaks? Would Project Rene be any successful if inZOI manages to stick to the landing? Let us know in the comments below!
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire