EA’s belovedThe Simsfranchise is being taken in a brand-new direction, but it seems that not everyone is taking these decisions well.The Sims 4has been the franchise’s most popular installment so far, as it has continued to receive constant updates over the past ten years. It appears thattradition will soon be broken with EA’s new and exciting project, which is currently known by the public asProject Rene.
It was recently revealed by EA that there are currentlyno plans to createThe Sims 5in the future, despite the high demand for it.The developers ofProject Renehave promised thatthis new game will further expand uponThe Simsuniverseand provide players with brand-new, exciting experiences. However, with the recent reveal of some ofProject Rene’s primary features, many long-time fans are unhappy about this new change, leading to a call forThe Simsfranchise to return to the previously established status quo.
What Exactly Is The Sims' Project Rene?
This New Spin-Off Breaks The Status Quo
There is a lot that still has yet to be revealed regardingProject Rene, but there have been multiple private playtesting sessions that have allowed curious players to experience EA’s latest project for themselves. Until an official trailer is released, a lot of information about the game is still left up to either speculation or official word given by EA themselves. However, there has been some information that has been shared with the public regardingwhatProject Reneactually is.
Despite what many have previously assumed,Project Reneis not a fifth installment inThe Simsfranchise, but is insteada brand-new spin-off project that will be developed alongside further updates toThe Sims 4. The game will be a free-to-play experience that is quite similar toThe Sims.
However, it will have the addition of a multiplayer mode, which has not been seen in the franchise since its initial inception. Furthermore, many players will be able to sell their own custom content in what are known as “Creator Kits,” allowing them to share their creativity with the rest of the world.
10 Things That Make No Sense In The Sims 4
It’s hard to find a game where every little detail makes sense, but at least these things that don’t make sense in The Sims 4 tend to provide humor.
Project Reneis proving to be a huge step-up in terms of customization options, with the ability to create a huge variety of user-generated content to share with others. However, one change that stands out the most regardingProject Reneis that it is described as a game with a “free to enter” model. Although most of the content will be available to players for free,there will be a lot of microtransactionsthat require additional payments to unlock more content.
The Outcry Against Sims Multiplayer Mode & Microtransactions
Online Reactions Have Not Been Positive
Given how longThe Simsfranchise has remained a single-player experience, these changes regardingProject Renehave not been taken well. Many have felt that such a shift in priorities from EA could potentially lead to the death ofThe Simsfranchise as a whole, asthe development company seems more concerned with making more money from players, rather than providing them with a fun and engaging experience.
On websites such as Reddit, there has been outcry against both the multiplayer mode and the abundance of microtransactions, stating that they deviate too much from the previousSimsgames. Reddit userManshevikMaddieperfectly sums up how many feel about these changes:
The simple fact of the matter is that EA’s focus on increased microtransactions has shown that they are following the already oversaturated trend of multiplayer live service games. With the prices of video games already increasing, adding numerous microtransactions on top of the price for the base game means asking players to spend more money that they might not even have.
Some people have expressed worry that content that was once free will now be behind a paywall. By locking out those who cannot pay for additional content,EA will be depriving much of their audience of having an enjoyable experiencewith theirSimstitle. Furthermore,not everyone who plays video games wants a multiplayer experienceto be in every game they own.
WithProject Renegetting rid of the beloved single-player experience in favor of online multiplayer, many players are worried that future games inThe Simsfranchise will follow in its footsteps, never to return to how it once was.
Many are content with the fact that previous entries inThe Simsfranchise have always been single-player, as it allows them to have complete freedom with their customization and gameplay without needing to worry about any input from others. WithProject Renegetting rid of the beloved single-player experience in favor of online multiplayer, many players are worried that future games inThe Simsfranchise will follow in its footsteps, never to return to how it once was.
How The Sims Franchise Can Continue To Thrive
The Sims Series Should Stick To Its Roots
With the overwhelming amount of multiplayer games that are currently out on the market, the entireThe Simsfranchise continues to be a familiar single-player experience that thousands of people return to even years after the games' initial releases.There are many people out there who wantThe Simsfranchise to remain single-player, allowing them the full creativity that they desire.
Lessening the amount of microtransactions, or removing them entirely, from the base game will ensure that thousands of players will be able to experience this great franchise without needing to worry about having to pay extra. AlthoughProject Renepromises to be an exciting spin-off of a beloved franchise, its emphasis on both multiplayer mode and the use of microtransactions have left many feeling very upset.
Many long-time supporters do not want to have to pay more for a franchise they already enjoy, let alone have to deal with possible spotty internet connections and other players. If EA wants to continue to cater to fans ofThe Simsfranchise, then the company should stick to what has worked in the past before making any drastic changes based on temporary trends.
