A major leak from the upcoming Sims title—code-named Project Rene—has given players their first real glimpse into what many are unofficially calling The Sims 5.
While EA and Maxis insist that Project Rene is not The Sims 5, recent leaked files and playtest content suggest it could be the next core evolution of the franchise. And if the leaks are accurate, it’s shaping up to be a massive shift from The Sims 4.
A Paris-Inspired World with Open Map Elements
The leak revealed a world map clearly modeled after Paris, with multiple districts and a river running through the center. One section of the map—highlighted in red—was used during the playtest, but the rest of the city appears to be locked or unfinished.
This setup suggests a possible return to open-world gameplay, something fans of The Sims 3 have been asking for ever since EA moved to smaller, segmented neighborhoods in The Sims 4.
Advanced Object Placement and Realistic Physics
One of the standout features from the leak is the realistic object physics. Players can now place items freely—such as putting pillows on a bed or moving laptops around—and they will interact naturally with other objects.
Tables can be stretched or resized, and players can customize individual elements of furniture. This level of detailed object manipulation is a major upgrade, giving players full control over both function and aesthetics.
Multiplayer Elements Confirmed
Another big reveal from the leak is multiplayer gameplay. Players can team up to complete daily objectives, decorate shared areas, or even run a café together.
However, some who accessed the leaked build noted that the daily quests felt repetitive, raising concerns that EA could be preparing the game for live service elements and microtransactions—a move that may not sit well with fans of the traditionally single-player Sims experience.
EA Says It’s Not “The Sims 5”—But Is It?
Despite the scope of the project, EA insists that Project Rene is not The Sims 5, possibly to test ideas or manage community expectations. Still, with the Sims branding all over the assets and gameplay systems closely tied to past Sims games, many players believe this is indeed the next evolution of the franchise—just with a different marketing approach.
Final Thoughts
While this leak comes from a pre-release version and much can still change, Project Rene is already drawing strong opinions. Between the return of large-scale maps, deep object customization, and the addition of multiplayer features, it’s clear EA is taking a bold step forward.
Whether or not fans embrace the shift may depend on how much control they retain over the gameplay—and how heavily the game leans into monetization.
