EA Shelves Mobile Multiplayer Sims Game to Focus on Rumored Sims 4 Follow-Up

EA has put development of a mobile multiplayer Sims game on hold to prioritize a rumored sequel to The Sims 4. The company announced a slew of changes and projects today, including the closure of BioWare and the cancellation of Mass Effect 5. It also seemed to lean into recent rumors that DICE and Respawn are making a new Star Wars Battlefront game. Another major shift: EA is shelving a mobile-first multiplayer Sims project, formerly known as Project Rene and now called Project Lotus. The game was once envisioned as the next big Sims title, but plans changed to a more mobile spin-off after EA saw that players were still sticking with The Sims 4.

With that game on the back burner, EA is shifting focus to a Sims title it's calling Project Evergreen. Although EA hasn't revealed what the game will focus on, rumors have been swirling about this project for some time. The game, previously rumored under the codename Project X, is expected to be a sequel to The Sims 4. Now, here's where it gets a bit confusing: it's not The Sims 5. It's being viewed more like The Sims 4 2.0. Yes, it's unnecessarily complicated.

As reported by Sims Community, the project is reportedly targeting September 2027 as its deadline to go gold, suggesting a fall 2027 launch. The game will release on PC and is also expected to be optimized for portable handhelds like the Steam Deck. If it really is releasing next year, we'll likely hear more at The Game Awards or sometime in the first half of 2027.

Earlier this year, the team behind The Sims hinted at a new single-player game in the franchise for PC and console, noting that half of its development team was working on The Sims 4 and its "next evolution."

Ultimately, this sounds like a win for fans who have been hoping for a new traditional entry in the franchise. The Sims 4 was released in 2014, meaning it's been 12 years since the franchise got a new game. There are plenty of updates and expansions that keep the game fresh, but building something from scratch and moving away from all the bloat could be a strong move for the series' future.