EA Shelves Mobile Sims Game to Focus on Rumored Sims 4 Sequel

Ever wonder what's next for The Sims? Well, EA just dropped a big hint by shelving a mobile multiplayer Sims game to focus on a rumored Sims 4 sequel.

EA announced a bunch of changes today, including the closure of BioWare and the cancellation of Mass Effect 5. Among those shifts, the company has paused development on 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 mobile spin-off once EA saw players were still hooked on The Sims 4.

With that project on the back burner, EA is now 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 for some time. The project, previously rumored under the codename Project X, is expected to be a sequel to The Sims 4—but here's where it gets confusing: it's not The Sims 5. It's being viewed more like The Sims 4 2.0. Yeah, it's unnecessarily complicated.

According to Sims Community, the project is reportedly targeting September 2027 as its deadline to go gold, suggesting the game would launch in fall 2027. It will release on PC and is also expected to be optimized for portable handhelds like the Steam Deck. If it really is releasing then, 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 tons 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 future of the series.

What do you think? Are you excited for a proper Sims 4 sequel, or were you hoping for something else? Let us know in the comments!