The Sims franchise just went through a massive behind-the-scenes overhaul that EA never wanted you to know about. Project Rene, the next-generation Sims experience revealed years ago, has been split into pieces. The single-player portion is now being developed as Project X – a straight-up Sims 4 successor launching late 2026. Meanwhile, the multiplayer components have been shelved or repurposed as EA scrambles to escape the nightmare that Sims 4’s outdated engine has become.
What Happened to Project Rene
Project Rene was originally pitched as a multifaceted gaming experience blending multiplayer gameplay, traditional single-player Sims, and various other modes alongside the existing Sims 4. Think of it like EA’s answer to games that let you seamlessly switch between solo and cooperative play. The concept has been completely abandoned, according to leaks posted on Reddit December 2, 2025.
Instead, the project got fragmented. The single-player component became Project X, which will serve as the direct successor to Sims 4. All the multiplayer features that defined Rene’s original vision either got scrapped entirely or pushed to separate projects. EA essentially took apart what they’d been building for years and reassembled it into something completely different.
The leak comes from sources familiar with development who shared details about Project X’s features and timeline. While EA hasn’t officially confirmed any of this information, the specifics align with previous reports about Maxis struggling to define what Project Rene actually was supposed to be. The studio announced in September 2024 that Project Rene wouldn’t be Sims 5 and would instead complement Sims 4, but internal plans apparently changed dramatically since then.
Project X Features and Design
Project X will feature Open Neighborhoods, but don’t get too excited – this isn’t the fully open world system from Sims 3 that let you follow your Sims anywhere without loading screens. Instead, expect defined neighborhood areas with more vibrant streets, active NPCs wandering around, and enhanced graphics similar to the early Project Rene previews shown during Behind The Sims Summit events.
Some elements from Sims 4 will be ported directly into Project X. The leak doesn’t specify exactly what content makes the transition, but EA plans to include a “fan-favorite feature” in the base game and migrate content originally developed for Sims 4 expansions into the new release. This could mean gameplay systems like Seasons weather, pets functionality, or social features getting rebuilt for the new engine.
Here’s the concerning part – since Project Rene’s foundation wasn’t primarily designed for single-player gameplay, Project X is reportedly simpler than current Sims 4. The game started as a multiplayer-focused experience, and stripping out those elements apparently left gaps that developers are now scrambling to fill. Whether “simpler” means fewer features at launch or streamlined systems remains unclear, but it suggests Project X might launch with less content than Sims 4 currently offers after 11 years of expansions.
Why It Won’t Be Called Sims 5
EA doesn’t intend to market Project X as “The Sims 5,” even though it functions as a full sequel replacing Sims 4. This branding decision ties into EA’s stated goal of moving beyond sequential numbered releases. The company wants an ecosystem where multiple Sims experiences coexist rather than new games replacing old ones every few years.
Practically speaking though, Project X will be marketed as Sims 5 in everything but name. When it launches, gaming media will call it the next mainline Sims game. Players will treat it as the sequel they’ve waited for. The lack of a “5” in the title is corporate semantics that won’t change how people perceive the product. EA likely wants flexibility to keep Sims 4 alive as a legacy option while pushing Project X as the modern premium experience.
The Sims 4 Engine Problem
So why discontinue Sims 4 if EA initially planned to support it indefinitely? The answer is brutally simple – the engine is too old and convoluted to maintain. Built on code dating back to the early 2010s, Sims 4’s technical foundation has become a nightmare for quality assurance and new content development. The costs of maintaining this chaotic codebase now outweigh any benefits of continued support.
Anyone who follows Sims 4 updates knows the game breaks constantly. Every patch introduces new bugs, expansion packs conflict with each other in bizarre ways, and seemingly simple additions cause game-breaking glitches. Maxis developers have essentially confirmed the engine can’t handle the accumulated weight of 11 years worth of content piled on top of foundations that were never designed to support this much complexity.
Think of it like building with Jenga blocks. You can stack higher and add more pieces, but eventually the structure becomes so unstable that touching anything causes collapse. Sims 4 reached that breaking point years ago, and every new expansion pack makes stability worse. Project X represents a chance to rebuild from scratch with modern architecture that can actually support a decade of future content without imploding.
EA also wants to tackle mod-related problems more effectively. Players constantly misreport issues caused by outdated custom content as game bugs, creating support nightmares. A new engine with better mod detection and compatibility checking could reduce these false reports while maintaining the modding community that keeps Sims alive long after EA stops supporting each title.
Launch Timeline and Release Strategy
The leak projects launch for the end of 2026 – likely October or November based on how EA typically releases major Sims titles around holidays. That gives Maxis roughly two years from now to finish developing Project X, which seems ambitious considering the project apparently started as something completely different and got restructured mid-development.
Expect EA to sunset Sims 4 expansion development sometime in 2026 as Project X approaches launch. The company will probably announce one final expansion pack as a sendoff, then shift all resources to marketing the new game. Sims 4 won’t shut down – it’ll remain playable indefinitely like Sims 3 – but active development will cease once Project X releases.
The transition will be messy for players who’ve invested thousands of dollars in Sims 4 content over 12 years. None of that content transfers to Project X. You’re starting over from scratch with a base game that will likely offer less functionality at launch than Sims 4 does now after years of expansions. EA will try to soften this blow by porting some fan-favorite features into the base game, but expect massive backlash from longtime players who feel forced to rebuy content they already own.
What This Means for Players
In the short term, Sims 4 players should expect reduced support and fewer major releases as Maxis shifts resources toward Project X. Don’t anticipate massive gameplay overhauls or ambitious new expansion packs – EA is in maintenance mode, keeping the game functional while building its replacement. The community will continue creating mods and custom content, but official support is winding down.
For players waiting for the next mainline Sims game, Project X represents both hope and concern. Hope because a modern engine could enable features impossible in Sims 4, like truly open neighborhoods, better performance, more complex simulations, and gameplay systems that actually work together instead of breaking each other. Concern because EA’s track record with Sims base games is terrible – they launch barebones products missing features from previous titles, then slowly sell that content back as DLC over years.
The fact that Project X is described as “simpler” than Sims 4 is particularly worrying. Does that mean fewer careers, reduced build mode options, limited Create-a-Sim customization, or missing life stages? EA’s approach with Sims 4 at launch was to strip out pools, toddlers, and countless other features that eventually got added back through free updates or paid expansions. Nothing suggests Project X will break that pattern.
The Multiplayer Question
What happened to all the multiplayer features that defined Project Rene’s original vision? The leak doesn’t provide clear answers. Those components either got cancelled entirely when EA split the project, or they’re being developed separately as spin-off experiences distinct from Project X’s single-player focus.
EA officially stated in 2024 that they’re moving away from sequential Sims releases toward an ecosystem with multiple options. Project X handles the traditional single-player simulation experience. Perhaps another team is building multiplayer-focused Sims content as a separate free-to-play or mobile game. Or maybe EA realized the Sims community doesn’t actually want multiplayer and quietly killed those features after negative feedback.
Either way, Project X will be a traditional single-player Sims game without the optional co-op features that Project Rene originally promised. If you wanted to build houses with friends or visit each other’s neighborhoods seamlessly, that vision is dead or delayed indefinitely.
FAQs
Is Project X the same as Project Rene?
No. Project Rene was split into pieces. Project X is the single-player portion being developed as a Sims 4 successor, while the original multiplayer vision has been abandoned or moved to separate projects.
When will Project X release?
According to leaks, Project X is projected to launch at the end of 2026, likely around October or November. EA hasn’t officially confirmed this timeline.
Will Project X be called The Sims 5?
EA doesn’t intend to label it as Sims 5, preferring to move away from numbered sequential releases. However, it functions as a full sequel and successor to Sims 4, so players and media will likely treat it as Sims 5 regardless of official branding.
Will Sims 4 content transfer to Project X?
No. Project X is built on a completely different engine. None of your Sims 4 expansions, game packs, stuff packs, or kits will transfer. You’ll need to purchase new content for Project X separately.
What are Open Neighborhoods in Project X?
Open Neighborhoods are defined areas with more vibrant streets and active NPCs walking around. This isn’t the fully open world from Sims 3 where you could follow Sims anywhere – it’s more limited but offers more life than Sims 4’s isolated lots.
Why is EA discontinuing Sims 4?
The engine is too old and convoluted to maintain. Built on code from the early 2010s, it’s become a nightmare for quality assurance and development. Maintenance costs outweigh benefits, and the chaotic codebase makes it nearly impossible to add new features without breaking existing content.
Will Project X have multiplayer features?
Based on leaks, no. Project X focuses on traditional single-player gameplay. The multiplayer components originally planned for Project Rene were either cancelled or moved to separate projects.
Will Sims 4 shut down when Project X launches?
No. Sims 4 will remain playable like Sims 3 still is today. However, EA will stop developing new expansions and actively supporting the game once Project X releases in late 2026.
Is Project X simpler than Sims 4?
According to leaks, yes. Since Project Rene’s foundation was designed for multiplayer, stripping out those features for single-player Project X resulted in a simpler game than current Sims 4. This suggests fewer features at launch, though EA hasn’t confirmed what exactly this means.
Conclusion
Project X represents EA’s escape hatch from the technical disaster that Sims 4 has become. After years of insisting they’d support Sims 4 forever and claiming Project Rene wasn’t a replacement, the company is doing exactly what they said they wouldn’t – building a full sequel to sunset the current game. The fact that this successor started as something completely different and got restructured mid-development doesn’t inspire confidence. Neither does describing it as simpler than Sims 4 or confirming it wasn’t originally designed for single-player experiences. Players waiting for the next mainline Sims game will get one in late 2026, but whether Project X delivers the modern simulation experience fans deserve or launches as another barebones cash grab remains to be seen. Start saving money now – you’ll need it to rebuy all the expansion pack features you already paid for in Sims 4.