The gaming industry has seen no shortage of cozy life sims as of late, with hit games likeStardew Valleystill topping the charts and others still to come on the horizon.Project Reneis another upcoming life sim that has been in development for years now, yet with no confirmed release date. Dubbed a “next generationSimsgame and creative platform” by its developer,Project Reneaims to usherThe Simsinto a “new future…with a new game experience and more.” Unfortunately, almost every bit of information disclosed about the project is highly cryptic, and that includes its release date.
According toThe Sims' VP of franchise creative, Lyndsay Pearson, duringThe SimsSummit Stream Event in 2022,Project Renewas still at least a “few years” away from launch at the time. This means the elusive project likely won’t see the light of day until at least 2025, and even then, it will reportedly be launching in early access. This putsProject Rene’s release date between a rock and a hard place, especially asThe Sims 4continues to receive new content in 2024and other cozy life sim games are consistently stealing the show, with more still to come on the horizon. As such,Project Renecould be shooting itself in the foot by waiting too much longer.
Why Project Rene Can’t Wait Much Longer to Launch
The Market Is Ripe in 2024 for Another Cozy Life Sim
With so many other popular cozy games either currently available or on the horizon,Project Renemay miss its perfect release windowif it waits too long. ConcernedApe’sStardew Valleysaw a recent resurgence after its 1.6 update launched, adding a host of new features to the game. Now, the developer is working on his next cozy game,Haunted Chocolatier, and although its release date is still a ways off, more details will likely be shared about it this year.
Private Division and Weta Workshop recently announced theirLord of the Ringscozy sim,Tales of the Shire, will be launched this year. While it looks so much likeAnimal Crossingthat it has earned the nickname “Shire Crossing,” it should still bring a unique experience to the table, given its place in theLord of the Ringsuniverse. Furthermore, Paradox Tectonic’s open-world life sim,Life By You, is also slated for a 2024 release.Life By Youaims to revolutionize the sim genre by giving players an unprecedented amount of creative liberty, allowing them to customize everything from the world itself to the story their characters experience.
Finally, Bad Ridge Games' sandbox farming simMirthwoodis anotherStardew Valley-like gamecoming in 2024, and although it might be the least cozy sim of the bunch, it will still serve as competition of some sort forTales of the ShireandLife By You. With 2024 already being packed with life sims, there’s little reason whyProject Reneshould wait much longer to launch.
Early 2025 May Be the Latest Project Rene Should Wait to Take Advantage of the Market
One thing is clear:cozy life simsare still coming in waves, even if they are the same waves created byStardew Valleyover eight years ago. That being said, rarely are they grouped in such large quantities as they are in 2024. While launching sooner rather than later could potentially causeProject Reneto be overshadowed by other games like it, a ripe market might also be its ticket to success. The more cozy games are released, the more the community is likely to take an interest in them. As such, early 2025 might be the latestProject Reneshould wait before it launches.
The Sims 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Unleash your imagination and create a unique world of Sims that’s an expression of you. Download for free, and customize every detail from Sims to homes and much more. Choose how Sims look, act, and dress, then decide how they’ll live out each day. Design and build incredible homes for every family, then decorate with your favorite furnishings and décor. Travel to different neighborhoods where you can meet other Sims and learn about their lives. Discover beautiful locations with distinctive environments and go on spontaneous adventures. Manage the ups and downs of Sims’ everyday lives, and see what happens when you play out scenarios from your own real life. Tell your stories your way while developing relationships, pursuing careers and life aspirations, and immersing yourself in this extraordinary game, where the possibilities are endless
