ThoughThe Simshas had multiple mobile iterations over its history, the franchise’s latest installment could act as EA’s personal experiment. CalledThe Sims Labs: Town Stories, this spin-off will be a town-building and simulation game similar toThe Sims. No official announcement for the game has come from EA, with a listing for the game appearing on the Google Play Store before being taken down.
However, unlike mainlineThe Simsgames, the original Google Play Store listing describesThe Sims Labs: Town Storiesas a building simulation game in which players create their own town.The Simsfranchise has already had a mobile game with a similar premise toSimCity: BuildIt, but this upcoming installment seems to focus more on unique in-game residents,more in the vein ofDisney Dreamlight Valley.
Players can build, upgrade, andcustomize the town of Plumbrookwith various building types and furniture, with individual residents moving into the town after upgrading it in ways that they like. Though the gameplay itself may not be entirely unique, the title of the game is cause for speculation.
The Sims Labs Is Open for Experimentation
Town Storiesis one of the first installments underThe Sims Labsbrand.Sims Labshas been introduced by EAas a place for dedicated Simmers to play test upcoming games in the franchise. The initial announcement placed heavy emphasis on new game play and storytelling styles, but the most interesting part of the announcement was whatThe Sims Labswill represent going forward.
According to the announcement, the brandSims Labswill appear wheneverEA is experimenting with new and differentSimsproducts, systems, and features.Town Storieswill act as a way for EA to experiment with new concepts, though the concepts are still currently unknown.
However,Town Storiesisn’t the first time a game in The Sims franchise has focused on town-building with a cartoony aesthetic. This new installment could take inspiration fromspin-off franchiseMySims, which was marketed towards younger Simmers who played on consoles like the Nintendo DS and the Wii. With the heavy experimentation focus ofSims Labs, the core components ofTown Storiesbeing reminiscent ofMySims, and the game’s mobile release, this new installment inThe Simsfranchise is clearly a test run for EA’s long awaitedProject Rene.
The Mysterious Project Rene
First announced in October 2022,Project Renehas long been considered as a stand-in forThe Sims 5. The mysterious project will be playable across console, PC, and mobile, making it the biggest undertakingThe Simsteam have taken on yet.Leaks fromProject Renehave showcased recognizable aspects ofThe Sims,like the game’s Create-A-Sim feature. However, EA has remained tight-lipped on the project as a whole, but definitive proof of a game under theSims Labsbrand may have spilled the beans slightly.
Considering thatProject Renewill be playable on mobile,The Sims Labs: Town Storieslooks like EA’s first test at experimenting with characteristics ofProject Renein a mobile setting. These features could be a condensed version ofthe classic Create-A-Sim, new swatches and items that will be featured inProject Rene’s actual release, and new townies that could be present inProject Rene’s world. Focusing on a mobile release could also be EA’s way of introducing a younger audience not just toThe Sims, but to the townies and world ofProject Rene, making them more likely to pick up the game when it is actually released.
With so much ofProject Renein the dark, speculation is all that can truly be offered.The Sims Labshas shed a little light on the subject, but Simmers will just have to wait for EA to give more official details.
The Sims 4
WHERE TO PLAY
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