The Sims 5 will be free-to-play, Maxis confirmed through the most recent community update.
Project Rene is the working name for the upcoming game in The Sims universe. According to Maxis, the goal of Project Rene is to make the game more accessible to a broader audience.
The game will feel “Simsy,” meaning that it will follow the same gameplay principles but be presented in a new way. Project Rene allows the developers to innovate elements of the game that have proven to be successful.
Project Rene will exist simultaneously with The Sims 4. Both games will receive updates for the foreseeable future. From the get-go, the game will be free to download and play. Players won’t need any kind of subscription or purchase for the base game.
The game will have special content and packs for sale, similar to the expansion packs in The Sims 4. That doesn’t mean the base game won’t receive updates. The packs will be focused on enhancing the experience from the core game based on the updates on it.
Throughout the development of Project Rene, Maxis will recruit players for the different playtests.
“Direct player feedback has been one of the most valuable tools we’ve used at Maxis,” said Production Director Stephanie Callegari. “It only makes sense for us to evolve this experience for both the players and the development team.”
Project Rene is currently in development. There isn’t a set release date for the game yet.
Back in 2022, Maxis held a private playtest with a large group of players. At the time, the game was considered to be in early development. Maxis will be looking to do more playtests in the near future.
The Sims 5, also known as Project Rene, will be free to download and play. The game will eventually sell content and expansion packs.
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