It’s been over a decade sinceThe Sims 4first hit store shelves. WhileThe Sims 4has received 17 expansionsin that time and is still receiving new content at a consistent rate, many fans are craving an all-newSimsexperience. EA’sProject Reneis set to be such an experience, but fans might have to wait a bit longer to play it.
WhenProject Renewas officially confirmed to be in the works back in October 2022, Vice President of Franchise Creative forThe Sims, Lyndsay Pearson, stated the game was in “very early” development and that it was still a few years out. Despite not seeing much official footage from the game over the last two years, there’s a chanceProject Renecould release in 2025. But it might be a better idea to wait until next year.
Project Rene Might Want to Hold Off Until 2026
2025 Is Shaping Up to be a Busy Year for the Life-Sim/Cozy Game Genre
Thelife-simulation genrehas grown increasingly popular over the last decade or so thanks to leading titles likeAnimal Crossing,Stardew Valley, and, of course,The Sims. The genre has become so popular, in fact, that at least six highly-anticipated life-sim/cozy games are set to launch in 2025.
The first cozy game to release in 2025 will beHello Kitty Island Adventure, a former Apple Arcade exclusive that’s about to hit consoles and PC on January 30. Two months later,Wanderstop,Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, andinZOIare all set to release. ThoughWanderstop’s development teamhas an impressive lineage andTales of the Shirehas some strong brand recognition, it’sinZOIthatSimsfans are mostly excited about, with it promising “deep and detailed” life-sim gameplay built using Unreal Engine 5.
If that wasn’t enoughcozy life-sim gameplay, fans of the genre can also look forward toRune Factory: Guardians of AzumaandFantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, both of which are set to release later in 2025.
2025 Is Already Packed With Long-Awaited Franchise Follow-Ups
While EA’sProject Renewould undoubtedly have more brand recognition than just about every title mentioned, it would be far from the only big AAA franchise entry to release in 2025. This year, countless franchises are set to receive long-awaited follow-ups, some of which fans have waited the best part of a decade for or longer.
Fableis finally set to make its return this year, marking 15 years since the last mainline entry in the series.Civilization 7is hitting store shelves in February, almost nine years afterCiv 6.Monster Hunter Wildsis set to launch in the same month, seven years afterMonster Hunter: World. And, of course,Grand Theft Auto 6is slated to arrive in 2025, potentially landing 12 whole years afterGTA 5.
ThoughProject Renewould be able to offer a completely different gameplay experience to these titles, it might be best for it to still avoid their release windows. EA will presumably want all eyes to be onProject Renewhen it eventually launches, especially if it still plans ongoing free-to-play, so it’ll need to pick a moment where the industry isn’t being flooded with other headline-worthy video games.
The Sims 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Unleash your imagination and create a unique world of Sims that’s an expression of you. Download for free, and customize every detail from Sims to homes and much more. Choose how Sims look, act, and dress, then decide how they’ll live out each day. Design and build incredible homes for every family, then decorate with your favorite furnishings and décor. Travel to different neighborhoods where you can meet other Sims and learn about their lives. Discover beautiful locations with distinctive environments and go on spontaneous adventures. Manage the ups and downs of Sims’ everyday lives, and see what happens when you play out scenarios from your own real life. Tell your stories your way while developing relationships, pursuing careers and life aspirations, and immersing yourself in this extraordinary game, where the possibilities are endless
