In a recent announcement, EA confirmed that The Sims 5, codenamed Project Rene, will be free to download upon its release. This means players won’t need a subscription, core game purchase, or energy mechanics to play. The Sims 4 will continue to coexist with The Sims 5, and both games will receive ongoing support and content updates. Project Rene will not initially have all the features of The Sims 4 but will receive additional experiences and content over time. EA also mentioned a change in their DLC strategy, offering some content for free, like basic weather, and introducing themed packs for purchase, such as winter sports activities. While a release date hasn’t been confirmed, EA stated that The Sims 5 is still in the early stages of development.