Project Rene Leak: Interface, Lotus Branding, and a Scooter – Full Breakdown
The Sims Community editorial team received a new anonymous letter — this time claiming that the screenshots show the interface of Project X. However, after examining the images, it turned out that they actually depict Project Rene — a long‑announced but never‑released multiplayer project for mobile devices. The images reveal a small interface, new iconography, a renaming to "Project Lotus," and even, it seems, a scooter.
Anonymous Source: A New "Leak" from the Same Focus Pool
On May 21, 2026, the Sims Community received another anonymous letter. The author claimed to have been a participant in a youth focus group for EA for about six months. According to him, the letter included screenshots from a survey about the user interface of Project X (as he believed).
"Hello! I was a participant in a youth focus group for EA for about six months. I'm attaching a few screenshots from a survey about the Project X interface. The study also included a survey about cozy gameplay, fashion styles, and build mode. You may have seen them already, maybe not."
However, upon closer inspection, "the picture didn't add up." Instead of Project X, the images clearly show features of Project Rene — a multiplayer project that EA officially redefined as a "mobile game with social multiplayer."
What Is Shown in the "Fresh" Screenshots?
Photo #1: "Project Lotus 2026" Splash Screen
The first image is a user interface splash screen. In the top right and bottom right corners, there is a reference to the game as "Project Lotus 2026." The codename Lotus is not new — it first surfaced back in 2021 as one of the names for a "next‑generation gaming project." Since then, it has been strongly associated with Project Rene.
The splash screen also contains references to "subway tickets" and "material design," which, according to the author of the publication, resembles the interface style of Paralives.
Photo #2: Style Selection and Multiplayer Challenge
The next three images are combined into a single horizontal gallery. They all appear to be screenshots taken on an iPhone.
The first frame shows a "Choose your style" window — a selection of ready‑made outfits that, presumably, can be customized. In the lower left corner, the same Lotus iconography is visible.
The second frame is presented as a demonstration of graphical improvements, but actually shows a multiplayer dress‑up challenge: you must dress a character within a set time limit using specified clothing items.
The third frame shows updated interface elements. However, the background content appears unchanged and looks the same as in previous playtests.
Photo #3: A Staged Shot Hinting at a Scooter
The third and final image, in the author's opinion, is most likely "staged" — its purpose is not to show new content but to demonstrate UI elements. However, it is here that a scooter can be seen, which drew a sarcastic reaction in the comments: "...a scooter… to ride where? One would like to believe there is a life simulator off‑screen, but this increasingly looks like a high‑budget MMO."
Can the "Leak" Be Trusted? Questionable Authenticity
The leak raises many questions. First, the anonymous person sent the letter to the editorial team claiming the screenshots were of Project X, but even a superficial analysis revealed this was not the case. Second, the images do not contain any new information — they merely rehash what we have already seen in previous playtests. Third, some frames show signs of "staged" composition, casting doubt on their authenticity.
Finally, the editorial team reminds that similar "leaks" of Project X images have been investigated before, and they turned out to be AI‑generated. There is no guarantee that this set of screenshots is not another fake, intentionally or accidentally tied to the project.
Project Rene: As We Know It
Let us recall the official position: Project Rene is not The Sims 5. In January 2026, EA finally confirmed that it is a "social multiplayer" project aimed primarily at mobile devices. In essence, it is an attempt to create an online "plaza" where players can interact within a limited space.
Against this backdrop, the comments from players under the news on the Sims Community website are particularly striking:
Other users are even more blunt:
These comments contain all the pain of a community that has waited for years for an announcement of a proper life simulator, only to receive a "multiplayer plaza" with timers and scooters, the development of which seems to be stagnating.
The new "leak" about Project Rene is not so much a source of new information as it is a reflection of an old problem: development has dragged on, the concept remains vague, and community trust is eroding. Instead of a full‑fledged life simulator, we are once again shown a "plaza" with quest and cooperative elements. Players are increasingly comparing Project Rene to the failed SimCity 2013, while also expressing hope for Paralives and InZOI.
We can only hope that EA and Maxis will reconsider their strategy and present something more substantial, otherwise they risk losing their audience for good.
