Sims 5 Team Eyes Multiplayer Inspired by Animal Crossing
The upcoming installment in The Sims series, presently known as Project Rene but widely anticipated to be titled The Sims 5, is confirmed to include some form of multiplayer, as per the development team. In envisioning this feature, they’re drawing from the success of the popular life-simulation game Animal Crossing and the unexpectedly relevant murder-mystery game Among Us.
Lyndsay Pearson, Vice President of Creative for the Sims franchise, discussed this in the One More Life podcast by Radio Times. She emphasized the team’s commitment to integrating multiplayer elements into the game.
Pearson also clarified that the multiplayer aspect won’t transform the game into a massive, MMO-style world filled with unknown players. Instead, it will offer an opportunity for players to connect with a select group of friends, enabling them to share and experience their virtual lives through various activities.
Pearson emphasized that the multiplayer mode in The Sims 5 won’t be about diving into a vast, intimidating world full of strangers. Instead, it’s about asking, “How do you and your friends want to play together?” The team is exploring various possibilities, recognizing that collaborative play can take many forms.
Although it’s unlikely that The Sims 5 will venture into genres like battle royale or shooters, Pearson mentioned that the team is entertaining some creative and unconventional ideas that could be adapted to fit the unique ‘Sims-y’ style. Among these are concepts like trivia, fighting, racing games, and even an Among Us-style mystery challenge, where players would need to collaborate and communicate to solve puzzles.
“We’re really enjoying the process of examining these diverse opportunities, especially in the context of The Sims,” Pearson explained. “It’s about guiding these characters through their lives. So, what does it look like when we do that together? We’re trying to find ways to blend a bit of chaos, fun, and positivity into an experience that resonates with the quintessential feel of The Sims.”
Pearson highlighted the success of Animal Crossing as an inspiration for the multiplayer aspect of The Sims 5. The game’s ability to create intimate shared spaces and its use as a customizable backdrop for various activities, like the virtual talk show ‘Animal Talking’ hosted by Gary Whitta in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, stands as a model.
“We frequently discuss Animal Crossing because it perfectly illustrates the concept of personal space – like my own little island – which I can then share with others,” Pearson explained. “Over the past few years, we’ve observed Animal Crossing players inventing their own cooperative activities that go beyond the game’s built-in features, like organizing scavenger hunts. It’s also fascinating to see creative uses of the game, such as hosting talk shows, which I find incredible.”
EA Maxis has confirmed that Project Rene will adopt a free-to-play model, supplemented by paid DLC, staying true to the essence of a Sims game. The game is designed to “co-exist” alongside other Sims titles, including The Sims 4, which transitioned to a free-to-play model last year. Project Rene will also feature new technological enhancements, including more sophisticated lighting, a more detailed simulation of the larger world, and visual indicators for Sims’ emotions, such as flames for anger. This last feature might become quite familiar in its Among Us-inspired mode, adding a playful twist to multiplayer interactions.
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