The Sims 5 Will Be Free To Download

When announcing the next Sims title codenamed Project Rene back in October, the company said it would feature both solo and multiplayer gameplay offering the same experience across all supported devices including mobile. EA didn't specify the pricing model at the time though. 

Lyndsay Pearson, VP of franchise creative for The Sims at Maxis Studios, decided to clarify the situation and share more details on the game. 

"We intend for Project Rene to be free to download, and that means that when it’s ready and fully open to our players, you’ll be able to join and play and explore Project Rene without a subscription, without core game purchase or energy mechanics," Pearson said in a recently released video. 

"We want it to be easy for you to invite or join with a friend, and that means extending an open invitation for everyone to play," added the manager. 

The VP also shared the game will have different phases of development, including closed invites, small public tests, and large-scale early access.

"And yes, when Project Rene is ready, it’ll be available to download for free," clarified Pearson. 

EA also noted that the release version won't be as fully featured as The Sims 4, which has been expanded with new content over the years.

"We want to focus on building something strong and cohesive from the start, so it definitely won’t start with everything you have in The Sims 4, but we’re going to add new experiences and content to Project Rene over time," said Pearson. 

The manager added the studio might introduce basic weather and other things to the core game for free for everybody. Then, they could sell things for winter sports and stuff like that to monetize seasons. 

As for The Sims 4, EA claims that it will continue to exist with Project Rene, so they plan to release even more content for The Sims 4. 

Previously, EA's Maxis Studios has shared a closer look at the upcoming The Sims 5's WiP lighting system, character animations, and user interface. You can read more here. 

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