Though it was announced back in 2022, details about the mysterious Project Rene remain elusive. The game is likely still in the middle of development by EA and Maxis, but playtests for Project Rene will likely occur throughout 2025 based on 2024’s playtest schedule.

While playtests for Project Rene were not constant throughout 2024, the number of playtests and the leaked content of them suggests that they will continue into 2025. Leaks from playtesters are also a great compass for predicting what features and gameplay could be in these upcoming playtests or in the full version Project Rene itself.

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Project Rene Leaks Reveal Details About Playtesting

One of the first known playtests for Project Rene occurred sometime during fall 2024, with one playtester stating tests took place in late September. While datamining has provided the most information about Project Rene’s gameplay, leaks by playtesters as well as the experiences they have shared have provided a more intimate insight into this new entry in The Sims franchise.

The most notable playtester who shared their experience is a Reddit user named “DzXAnt22”. The playtester revealed several features that were part of gameplay, including a Paris-inspired world that is part of a player community called “The Sims Hub”, a clothing shop, and café gameplay.

Throughout the playtest, the Reddit user describes the main gameplay of the testing, which involved working at a café. Players would earn Simoleons and XP throughout their work day and could spend their Simoleons at the clothing shop. This version of the playtest had five levels that used the earned XP. Completion of a level would earn playtesters a new name badge or Simoleons. These features seem fairly in line with other work-based simulation games. With the amount of emphasis EA and Maxis have placed on Project Rene’s online cross-platform multiplayer capabilities, it seems likely that this café gameplay is only one type of job that players can expect in the finished game.

Project Rene Datamining Leaks

Dataminers have also shed quite a bit of light on Project Rene. While the clothing shop described in the aforementioned playtester’s gameplay is different from The Sims 4’s Create-A-Sim (CAS), as it forces players to select from pre-designed outfits, dataminers have leaked images of Project Rene’s version of CAS. This new version is more in depth, with new mobility aids, weight and height adjusters, layered clothing, and animal editing allegedly being available in Project Rene’s CAS.

Fast travel seems to be another Project Rene feature that dataminers have uncovered. This once again differs from The Sims 4, which simply has a loading screen. Allegedly, this version of fast travel involves a metro station.

The "What" and "When" of Project Rene's Next Playtest

With these leaks available for guidance, there are some specific features that seem more eligible for playtesting than others. If the café job is only one of several, it would make sense for Project Rene’s 2025 playtests to have players try out different jobs. These careers would likely be built upon Project Rene’s multiplayer capabilities and push this aspect of the game specifically.

EA and Maxis might also use these playtests as an opportunity to gauge player response to Project Rene’s CAS and fast travel features because they have been leaked to the public. Perhaps the hypothetical metro station has interactive gameplay on its various trains or players can work at the station itself.

When is the Next Project Rene Playtest Likely to Happen?

One resource EA and Maxis will likely utilize is The Sims Labs. Players who sign up for The Sims Labs program have the chance to test games in The Sims franchise. With the official launch of this program playing specifically in the previously mentioned Fall 2024 play test, it seems that the number of playtests for Project Rene will ramp up throughout the year. It would be unsurprising to see more leaks from playtesters sometime this spring, leaving a full six months between the 2024 play test and another hypothetical one.

Ultimately, confirmation of a Project Rene playtest can only come from EA, Maxis, and playtesters willing to speak out. Until then, eager Simmers will have to keep scouring for more information about Project Rene.

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The Sims

Created by Will Wright and Maxis, and published by EA, The Sims is a long-running series of life simulation games with sandbox gameplay. Players create Sims and control every aspect of their lives, from the houses they live in to the jobs they work.