Project Rene Not Sims 5: Maxis Reveals ‘Next Evolution’ Project

It is the confirmation many of us feared, yet deep down, most of us expected. Electronic Arts (EA) has finally ripped the band-aid off regarding the future of The Sims. After years of vague teasers, leaked playtest footage, and endless community speculation, the publisher officially admitted that Project Rene is not the direct sequel to The Sims 4. In a blog post titled "Four Things to Know Now about the Future of The Sims," Maxis clarified that Project Rene has been re-designated as a "social, mobile-first life-sim game," effectively ending the confusion that has surrounded the title since its reveal. 

The announcement explicitly states that Project Rene has "evolved" from its initial cross-platform pitch into a distinct experience designed primarily for mobile devices. According to the update, this shift was driven by ongoing player feedback, leading the team to focus on social multiplayer play. This offers a more direct way for friends to share creativity, but EA was crucial in noting that this title is "not the successor to The Sims 4" and will exist separately from any future deep, single-player simulation experiences. Essentially, it is a spin-off designed to welcome players who want to connect directly with others in a simplified environment.

This admission validates the steady stream of leaks that surfaced throughout late 2024 and 2025. Many fans will recall seeing playtest images, including files explicitly named "SimsLabs_Rene2.png,” which depicted a stylized, simplified art style much closer to The Sims Mobile than a mainline PC powerhouse, as reported by PC Gamer. 

The ‘Next Evolution’ for PC and Consoles

However, there is a significant silver lining for those who simply want a traditional Sims experience. In the same post as the mobile news, Maxis confirmed that it is actively developing what it calls "the next evolution" of the franchise. Unlike Project Rene, this unannounced title is being built specifically for PC and consoles with a strict commitment to the "deep, single-player life simulation" that defines the series. 

This news has brought a wave of relief to the community, as it confirms that the complex, moddable, high-fidelity experience fans crave hasn't been abandoned for the mobile market. To back this up, EA released data regarding their development resources. Maxis stated that more than half of their global development team is currently dedicated to The Sims 4 and this new "next evolution" project. 

This effectively bifurcates the franchise: Project Rene will serve the casual, social mobile market, while the unnamed "Next Evolution" will target the dedicated PC/Console player base. This strategy allows EA to build a "family of new Sims experiences" without alienating the core audience that has kept the game alive for decades.

While we don't have a release window for the "Next Evolution" just yet, this clarification provides a much-needed roadmap. The Sims 4, now over a decade old, will continue to receive updates and serve as the bridge until the true successor is ready. Maxis teased that we can expect more playtests in 2026 for new ideas, though details on the single-player project are likely still months away. For now, at least, we finally know where we stand: the mobile game is happening, but the real Sims 5 may be on the way, too.