EA Announces The Sims 5 as Free-to-Download Title
Today, EA made a significant announcement about The Sims 5, known in development as Project Rene, revealing that it will be “free to download upon release.”
EA explained in a detailed blog post during the latest Behind the Sims showcase that “once Project Rene fully launches, players can dive in without any subscription, initial game cost, or energy mechanics. Our goal is to simplify the process for you to connect with friends and engage with new features, narratives, and challenges.”
The blog also emphasized that the upcoming Sims installment will not replace The Sims 4, but rather both games will coexist: “We’re committed to supporting both games concurrently and are planning to continue delivering exciting new content to The Sims 4 community in the time to come,” the post stated.
Clarifying further, EA mentioned that Project Rene “will not start out with all the features found in The Sims 4,” but the plan is to gradually enrich Project Rene with new content and experiences. EA also plans to continue its DLC strategy for Project Rene but with some changes.
“For instance, we might include fundamental weather in the base game at no cost,” EA said. “And later, we could offer a purchasable pack centered around winter activities, like ice dancing or a snowman building contest.”
While EA’s move towards a “free-to-enter” model for Project Rene was hinted at in a previous job listing, this announcement marks the company’s first official confirmation that the game will be free from the get-go. It also confirms that Project Rene won’t be replacing The Sims 4, which has been free to play since October 2022—shortly after EA teased the next Sims generation.
As for the release date of The Sims 5 or Project Rene, EA indicates that the game is still in “early development,” with no specific launch timeline provided just yet.
