The Sims 5 is far from finished, but… it will be FREE

And it will not replace The Sims 4.

It’s been a while since we’ve been hearing about Project Rene, the codename for the next Sims game, the sequel to the famous life simulation played by tens of millions of players. Today, its publisher has announced that The Sims 5 will be “available for free download when it’s ready.”

No subscription, open to everyone, and unlimited exploration, so The Sims 5 would be a free-to-play game. But what about in-game purchases? These in-game purchases, which are often the solution found by publishers to fund themselves generously. Well, regarding this, EA assures that no “core gameplay mechanics” will be subject to purchase, and there will also be no energy limits, as is sometimes seen in some idle mobile games.

The blog post also explains that this Sims game will not replace The Sims 4 but will coexist alongside it, “side by side.” EA assures that The Sims 4 will continue to receive updates, suggesting that Project Rene is not necessarily a “true” Sims 5. Of course, EA plans to sell DLCs for Project Rene.

“For instance, basic weather features could be added for free to the base game for everyone. Later on, we might sell a pack focused on winter sports with activities like ice dancing or a snowman building contest.”

No release date has been announced for The Sims 5 as the publisher stated today that they are still in the “early stages” of development.