The next Sims game has just received an alleged first look online, showing what the designs of the new Sims could look like.
The Sims 4 is now over ten years old, and while Electronic Arts still appears to be adding to it with new expansions, game packs, and kits, it’s clear that fans are ready for a new game.
Project Rene is in the works, after all, which is supposedly a free-to-play spin-off of the series with multiplayer support. There are also rumours about Project X, which will be the single-player portion of Project Rene and should be similar to a traditional Sims experience.
As shared by SimsCommunity, a first look at what the Sims in The Sims 5 could look like has been published. The designs look rather similar to how they appeared in The Sims 4, retaining the stylised look but with additional detail.
Of course, be sure to take all of this with a huge grain of salt. SimsCommunity says the images were shared with them via an anonymous email, so there’s a massive chance this could be a well-doctored fake.
SimsCommunity also says it’s unknown if these are the final renders for how characters will be represented in The Sims 5, or rather just design concepts for what EA hopes to achieve in the final release.
Either way, we’ll wait on official confirmation from EA before we take this as gospel.
What Kind Of Art Style Should The Sims 5 Have?
Still, it’s interesting to speculate on what kind of design the Sims in the next The Sims game will have.
I’m a big fan of the stylised approach in The Sims 4, which these leaked designs appear to be an evolution of, as opposed to the uncanny valley-ness of The Sims 3.
They’re cartoonish, but that means they’re given more leeway to be expressive and charismatic. You couldn’t really get away with the exaggerated body language in The Sims if the art style leaned more towards a realistic tone.
Some players have compared the style to that of Fortnite, and while I can understand why these comparisons are invited in, I should also stress that it really just seems in line with what the series has been using since The Sims 2 in 2004.
Nonetheless, we’ll probably find out more as the year goes on.
According to SimsCommunity, the next Sims game is supposedly receiving a full reveal sometime in 2026 with an alleged release towards the end of the year.
