So much is still left in the dark aboutThe Sims’ mysterious next installment,Project Rene. Many gamers thought thatProject Renewould simply act asThe Sims 5, but EA and Maxis have constantly pushed that the game is much more than the next installment inThe Simsfranchise.
Often described by EA and Maxis as an interactive multiplayer version ofThe Sims, it seems thatThe Simsteam wantsProject Reneto represent a more collaborative version of the franchise. However, EA and Maxis have already established one essential feature that has madeThe Sims 4a joint experience. IfThe SimsTeam wantsProject Reneto continue building a community between Simmers, it has to include the Gallery.
The Gallery’s Builds and Sims Are a Necessity
The Gallery is fully integratedwithinThe Sims 4and acts as a marketplace for the game’s players to share custom content, individual Sims, families, households, buildings, and rooms, with each other. Simmers can scour the Gallery for a build rather than making their own from scratch. Uploading and downloading from the gallery is simple and only takes a few clicks. The feature is also available across platforms, though console users did not receive access to the gallery until January 2020.
Adding this feature toProject Renemakes perfect sense. EA and Maxis have stated that gamers can create their own Sims and interact with other players’ Sims inProject Rene.If the Gallery was includedin this new installment, players could share their creations with others and possibly stumble across other players using their Sims in the game.
Downloading Sims off the Gallerywould also be beneficial to a single-player mode inProject Rene. While EA and Maxis are focused on developing and have heavily marketedProject Rene’s multiplayer features, there are still Simmers who will want to play in single-player mode. Rather than ruining any progress made in multiplayer gameplay, players would be able to download their friends’ builds and Sims to play with by themselves in their own scenarios. This obviously hinges on the mechanics ofProject Rene’s multiplayer mode, which has yet to be officially revealed.
Part of the fun ofThe Simsis replayability. Though many players make new Sims, builds, and storylines for their new saves, another percentage ofThe Sims’ player base explores the many different roads one Sim can travel.The Gallery acts as a wayfor other Simmers to experience new Sims or re-adventure through old ones.
Why the Gallery Will Probably Be Included in Project Rene
The Gallery would also be a logical addition for more practical reasons. Plenty of content creators specializing inThe Simsfranchise upload builds and Sims from their gameplay to the Gallery. IfProject Renedid not include at least a version of the Gallery, this bridge between Sims content creators and fans would be burned. With EA and Maxis recently announcing “The Sims Creator Program,” which is dedicated to making a network betweenThe Simsteam and content creatorsfocused on the franchise, including the Gallery inProject Renemakes perfect sense.The Simsteam passes on new information to content creators, who then create content based on the new information before uploading fun Sims and builds for their fans to the Gallery, maintaining promotion forProject Rene.
EA and Maxis have also partnered with creators before to promote new features inThe Sims 4via the Gallery. For example, Maxis created a Sim based onindie singer-songwriter mxmtoonafter she recorded a Simlish cover of her song “Prom Dress” forThe Sims 4. Leaving the Gallery out ofProject Renewould hamper promotional opportunities for the game, which would be disappointing after its long-awaited release.
Fans will only discover if the Gallery is included inProject Renewhen more information about the game is released. Until then, fans ofThe Simscanscour forProject Rene’s leaksor wait for official announcements from EA and Maxis.
The Sims
Created by Will Wright and Maxis, and published by EA, The Sims is a long-running series of life simulation games with sandbox gameplay. Players create Sims and control every aspect of their lives, from the houses they live in to the jobs they work.
