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| The Sims team says its core values remain unchanged as the franchise looks ahead to 2026. |
By Juli Scarr
The Sims is kicking off 2026 with a clear message about where the franchise is headed and what isn’t changing along the way. Across two new official updates, the studio reaffirmed its long-term values, confirmed continued support for The Sims 4, and outlined how future Sims experiences will span PC, console, and mobile.
Rather than focusing on a single reveal, the updates frame 2026 as a year of ongoing development, experimentation, and player collaboration.
The core values behind The Sims remain unchanged
At the heart of both announcements is a reaffirmation of the values that have guided The Sims for more than 25 years. According to the team, inclusivity, creativity, choice, community, and play continue to shape every decision being made about the franchise’s future.
The studio emphasized that The Sims has always been about giving you the freedom to create, experiment, and tell stories without rigid rules or consequences. That philosophy, they say, isn’t shifting as the franchise grows into new formats and platforms.
These values aren’t positioned as abstract ideals, but as practical design principles that continue to influence features, systems, and how you interact with the world and with each other.
A growing family of Sims experiences across PC, console, and mobile
Looking ahead, The Sims team confirmed it’s actively building a family of distinct experiences across PC, console, and mobile devices. Each project is designed to stand on its own, while still carrying the humour, creativity, and personality long-time fans expect.
The idea isn’t to funnel everything into one single product. Instead, the studio is exploring different ways to play, aimed at different styles of engagement, whether that’s deep storytelling, creative building, or more social play.
Details remain light for now, but the team made it clear that these experiences are being developed with long-term support and growth in mind.
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| The Sims is expanding into a family of experiences across PC, console, and mobile, each with its own focus and style. |
Continued commitment to single-player life simulation
For anyone concerned about the future of traditional Sims gameplay, the update offered reassurance. The Sims team confirmed it remains committed to deep, single-player life simulation experiences on PC and console.
Support for The Sims 4 will continue, with ongoing content and improvements planned. More than half of the global Sims development team is currently dedicated to The Sims 4 and what the studio describes as “the next evolution” of single-player life simulation.
More details on what that evolution looks like are expected later this year.
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| The Sims team confirmed single-player PC and console experiences remain central to the franchise’s future. |
Project Rene is a separate, social-focused experience
The update also clarified the role of Project Rene, which has evolved based on player feedback into a more social, collaborative, mobile-first life-sim experience.
The team was explicit that Project Rene is not a replacement for The Sims 4, nor is it the successor to future single-player Sims titles. Instead, it’s positioned as a separate experience designed for players who want to create and connect with friends in shared spaces.
Multiplayer and social creativity are the focus here, offering a different way to engage with the Sims universe alongside more traditional solo play.
Playtesting and Sims Labs continue through 2026
Player involvement remains a central part of development. Throughout 2026, the Sims team plans to continue playtesting new ideas through limited market tests and The Sims Labs.
These early builds and prototypes may include experimental features, temporary names, or concept ideas that don’t always make it to full release. The team stressed that this process is intentional, allowing them to find what works and what doesn’t early, with player feedback helping shape the outcome.
Building the future with players
Both updates close with a familiar sentiment: The Sims has always been shaped by its community, and that isn’t changing.
As the franchise enters its next era, the team says it wants you involved in shaping what comes next, just as you have for decades. The focus remains on creativity, experimentation, and giving you the freedom to play life your way.
For now, 2026 looks less like a single turning point and more like a year of steady development, transparency, and continued evolution for The Sims.
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