The destiny of The Sims franchise in the previous few years has been somewhat bit messy: EA has been engaged on what it referred to as Challenge Rene, which at instances seemed like The Sims 5 and at instances seemed like one thing else completely, with one or each of them being multiplayer however not an MMO and but nonetheless invoking the spirit of The Sims On-line.
Nicely, the state of affairs is getting even messier now, as EA has all however declared that it’s not engaged on The Sims 5 in any respect, at the least within the sense of its being a Sims 4 substitute because the neighborhood has lengthy been assuming. Right here’s the official assertion, buried in an enormous EA weblog:
“The Sims will transfer past linear, sequential Sims releases and supply extra choices for gamers than ever earlier than. We’re targeted on creating a wide range of video games and experiences that can contact completely different classes throughout the simulated life style together with cozy video games, social and collaborative based mostly gameplay, cell narrative video games and continued depth, enhancements, and modernization of The Sims 4, which is able to proceed to be a foundational Sims expertise.”
EA VP/GM Kate Gorman expounded on the technique in a Selection interview.
“What we’re actually working with our neighborhood on is that this a brand new period of The Sims. We aren’t going to be engaged on replacements of earlier initiatives; we’re solely going to be including to our universe. With that, you’ll see there are extra methods to expertise The Sims on completely different platforms, alternative ways to play, transmedia, and many nice choices inside this universe. So completely, we’re nonetheless persevering with to assist TS4 greater than ever. Nonetheless proceed to ship enlargement packs and updates and fixes. However what that is to say is, the best way we’re going to do issues going ahead is somewhat completely different. […] What this implies is that we are going to proceed to convey HD simulation expertise and what folks would need from a ‘5’ — but it surely doesn’t imply that we’re going to start out you over, reset all of your progress, and actually really feel such as you’re going to lose all of that tremendous play you set into 4. […] [W]e need you to proceed all of these households and generations. These creations are your progress, your attachment. We don’t wish to reset your progress. And so it’s not about as a lot of what the numbers are within the video games, however know that the way forward for the franchise seems extra like preserving your progress, preserving issues throughout titles, and actually having an ongoing expertise, and never a start-and-stop expertise between merchandise.”
It’s excellent news for individuals who’ve poured vats of cash into The Sims 4, anyway. Additionally, there’s some excellent news for followers of the multiplayer Challenge Rene, one of many core causes we’re protecting the franchise right here on MOP: EA says it’s operating a “small invite-only playtest” for the sport this fall with an “early have a look at a multiplayer expertise that explores becoming a member of pals and different gamers at a shared location.”
Frankly, it’s not completely clear that this wasn’t all the time EA’s technique; it’s definitely potential that EA is simply realizing it must attempt to handle expectations for what gamers can anticipate, given the continued confusion. In different phrases, maybe it’s simply one other try at getting the world to cease calling Challenge Rene “TS5.” We’ll see.
