EA has paused development on a mobile multiplayer Sims game in favor of moving forward with a rumored Sims 4 sequel.
EA announced a wide variety of changes and projects today, including the closure of BioWare and the cancelation of Mass Effect 5. It also seemed to lean into recent rumors that DICE and Respawn are making a new Star Wars Battlefront game. One other big change is that EA is shelving a mobile-first multiplayer Sims project, formerly known as Project Rene and now known as Project Lotus. The game was once envisioned as the next big Sims title, but plans changed to more of a mobile spin-off once EA saw that people were still hanging on to The Sims 4.
With that game being put on the back burner, EA is shifting its focus to a Sims title that it’s calling Project Evergreen. Although EA hasn’t revealed what the focus of this game will be, rumors have been swirling about this project for a some time now. The game, which was rumored to be under the codename Project X, is expected to be a sequel to The Sims 4. Now, here’s where it may get a bit confusing: It’s not The Sims 5. It’s being viewed more like The Sims 4 2.0. I know, it is unnecessarily complicated.
The Sims 4 Gameplay Screenshots (2024)
As covered by Sims Community, the project is reportedly targeting September 2027 as its deadline to go gold, suggesting the game would launch in fall 2027. The game will release on PC and is also expected to be optimized for portable handhelds, such as the Steam Deck. If it really is releasing next year, we will likely hear more about it at The Game Awards or sometime in the first half of 2027.
Earlier this year, the team behind The Sims hinted at a new single-player game in the franchise for PC and console, noting that half of its development team was working on The Sims 4 and its “next evolution.”
Ultimately, this sounds like a win for fans who have been hoping for a new traditional entry in the franchise. The Sims 4 was released in 2014, meaning it has been 12 years since the franchise got a new game. There are a ton of updates and expansions that keep the game fresh, but building something from scratch and moving away from all the bloat could be a strong move for the future of the series.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.