The Sims 5: Everything We Know

The Sims 5 has been at the top of our list of most wanted video game sequels for what feels like centuries. Little to our knowledge, Electronic Arts has been tightening a few bolts and piecing together a few strands from behind the scenes for quite some time now. And although it's still a fair ways off from releasing on consoles and PC, we do know for certain that it will be coming to both platforms as early as 2025.

Of course, there's still plenty we don't actually know about the next instalment in the highly successful life simulation series. For starters, we don't know how many expansions it will receive, or even if it will lean away from its cartoonish aesthetic and capitalize on something else entirely. It's hard to say at this point, though we do know about enough of its material to start painting a half decent portrait, at least. So, if you're curious to know more about EA's The Sims 5, then read on.

What Is The Sims 5?

The Sims 5, also known as Project Rene, is an upcoming life simulation game by Electronic Arts. According to the devs, the next instalment will “stay true to what The Sims has always been while pushing to evolve how those Sims think and behave,” meaning the core details will likely stay the same, but with a few more mechanics and features for the Aspirations, Wants, and Goals nodes.

It hasn't been said what The Sims 5 will look like yet, but its structure will most likely remain identical to the last four main chapters plus its network of expansions and spin-offs. To this end, you can expect plenty of sandbox elements, customization, and its signature “play with life” style of gameplay that it has held dear for twenty-three years.

Story

What makes The Sims the wonder that it is, to put it straight, is its lack of direction. The fact is, as there is no campaign or overhead goals to adhere to, each session is completely different, which alone makes each and every chapter in its universe an ever-evolving experience. The Sims 5 won't be any different in this respect, and will, like before, let its players build their own stories with their own Sims. Question is, will there be a multiplayer mode for the first time in the history of the franchise?

“The reality is that, yes, we know that our players want to have that intimate personal experience where they're exploring stories and ideas in single-player, but there are also really cool things you could do with others, where you could share and create with your friends,” game director Grant Rodiek said in a recent stream.

“One thing to keep in mind is that Project Rene is not an MMO [massively multiplayer online game],” Rodiek continued. “It is not this public, shared space where everything you do is always with other people. You can play on your own, on your terms, and then again, when you want on your terms, you can invite others to come and play with you.”

Gameplay

The Sims is famous for its “play with life” format, something which it has glued to since its original 2000 debut. Its gameplay, which adheres to a loose sandbox style, revolves around making custom families, building their homes, and having them pursue careers, love interests, and hobbies. This isn't likely to be changing anytime soon, so if you already have a general idea of how The Sims 4 operates, then you'll no doubt have a pretty basic understanding of what to expect in the upcoming instalment.

Of course, The Sims has always been one to brandy out and toy with new ideas with its various Stuff Packs and full-blown expansions. In fact, there hasn't been a whole lot Electronic Arts' hasn't explored in its twenty-three year reign. Still, if The Sims 5 is to receive just as many expansions as its predecessors, then we're definitely in for a treat come launch day.

Development

The Sims 5 will be developed by *checks notes* Electronic Arts (or at least its subsidiary, Maxis), a company that has pitched in to the beloved IP ever since it first came to light back in 2000. This isn't anything new, nor is it something that's going to change as development draws further and further on. So, in case you were expecting any last-minute changes to the studio at the helm, try not to fret.

Trailer

So, has a trailer actually released yet? The short and rather disappointing answer here is, contrary to popular belief, no, there hasn't. But then, seeing as we're still very much locked in the sequel's infancy, it does make sense that there isn't anything up on the web yet. That said, if you don't mind seeing what it could look like, then there's certainly no shortage of fan-made previews on YouTube.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Unfortunately, Electronic Arts has yet to make a formal announcement on The Sims 5's actual release window, meaning, while it's assumed that development is going swimmingly, the actual product probably won't be hitting PC and consoles for a couple of years yet. But as for when that exact window will be is still anybody's guess, as it will be until the devs make light of it. Let's just say, though, that 2025 would be an optimistic target at this point.

It's safe to say that The Sims 5 will be heading to PC before any other platform, too, as this has always been the series' go-to place for its launch titles. Chances are, PlayStation and Xbox will follow either in the months following on from its initial launch, or maybe even at the same time, depending on the demand.

For more information on The Sims 5, you can follow the official social handle here. We'll be sure to let you know all the core details should anything new come to light.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of The Sims 5 when it eventually drops? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.