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New Sims Game Is Inspired By Animal Crossing’s Multiplayer

• Jacob Chambers
• November 20th, 2023

The 2020 Switch exclusive Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes social simulation to new heights, and Maxis’ team is using it as inspiration for the next Sims game, dubbed “Project Rene”.

Vice president of franchise creative Lyndsay Pearson said the development team discussed Animal Crossing “all the time” when discussing The Sims 5’s multiplayer feature on a Radio Times podcast. IGN calls Nintendo’s island entry a “good example” of personal places and other creative approaches bringing gamers together:

 

“It is such a good example of my little space, my little island, but I can invite you over.”

“And we’ve seen throughout the last few years of Animal Crossing, people inventing ways to play together that the game doesn’t specifically support, but they’ve made up scavenger hunts or whatever, which is amazing. Or people who hosted talk shows on Animal Crossing, I think, is incredible, right?”

Among Us is another game guiding multiplayer in the upcoming Sims. The team is inspired by the collaborative mystery-solving multiplayer, despite its absurdity.

Project Rene was announced a year ago but may take a while. It will be free to download on PC and mobile when it arrives. No other platforms have been announced.