The Sims 5 update hints at open neighbourhoods
The Sims 5 has offered a new sneak peek, with the possibility of open neighbourhoods being teased.
The upcoming sequel, which currently has a working title of Project Rene, was officially confirmed to be in the works last October, though with development still at the early stages, updates have been rather infrequent.
However, during this week's Behind The Sims stream, EA and Maxis shared what they've been prototyping for the game, with topics such as lighting and animation covered.
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One of the more interesting snippets related to routines of the Sims, with one member of the development team explaining that they've been exploring how Sims might exist in an open space, such as a neighbourhood.
"Sims don't just live at home. They also exist in a broader neighbourhood, full of Sims," they said.
"So we've made some simple prototypes to explore what these Sims do during the day, where they go, what they see, and the schedules and routines that they have as they mill about the neighbourhood with you."
A look at the prototype showed numerous Sims – represented by Among Us-esque figures, as many fans in the live chat were happy to point out – going about their day in an outdoor environment.
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While this isn't confirmation of anything, it seems clear that the developers are looking at delivering neighbourhoods that feel more 'open' and lived-in than how they currently are in The Sims 4.
The lack of open worlds is often cited as one of the drawbacks of the current game, so it will be interesting to see how this is addressed in Project Rene.
Meanwhile, the team discussed using new lighting technologies to create more customisable scenes, which would potentially allow for more emotionally resonant storytelling.
With animations, the aim is to communicate better how Sims are feeling through their attitudes, emotions, and postures. For example, the way a Sim stands when they greet another Sim can help to capture their mood.
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Hair customisation was another feature mentioned, with the potential to give players more control over style and colour.
"We're trying to figure how to model a wide variety of styles across the broad range of humanity, and unlock options like flexible colouring," a member of the team said.
The stream event also gave an update on The Sims 4, including a behind-the-scenes look for the upcoming Horse Ranch expansion pack and the winners of the recent Kits community vote.
The Sims 4 is available on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
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