Hannan Mundia 
The pre-release PC build of Sims 5, also known as Project Rene, has leaked online and apparently uses the infamous Denuvo anti-tampering DRM.
The Sims 4 was released for PC in 2014, and since then has received a myriad of additional DLC adding to the experience, making some believe the game would go on forever as a live service. But that isn’t the case, as it was revealed that a sequel to The Sims 4 referred to as Project Rene was in the works, and its early-stage build was first cracked open in 2022.
New details have since emerged about the upcoming game, and they reveal that the pre-release PC build of Sims 5 uses the Denuvo anti-tampering DRM tool. Combined with previously confirmed information about the game’s price and cross-platform functionality, it seems Maxis Studios is taking extra steps to combat the famously high piracy The Sims games are known for.
Will The Sims 5 have Denuvo DRM?
The pre-release PC build of Sims 5 apparently does have Denuvo DRM, suggesting that the full release will also use the anti-tampering tool.
While The Sims 5 will be free-to-play, similar to The Sims 4 after the studio’s decision to move that game to a free-to-play model in 2022, the new game could still be pirated. The Sims 4 is famous not only for having several paid DLC but also for having its DLC additions cracked and pirated almost instantly.
Maxis’ decision to use Denuvo for The Sims 5 suggests that the upcoming game will adopt a similar strategy of releasing multiple paid DLC packs post-launch. Since it’ll be significantly more difficult to crack that DLC than its prequel, Maxis hopes that more players will purchase the extra content.
Denuvo has been controversial among gamers, with some game directors refusing to use the tool and others sneaking it into their games right before launch and catching heat from fans for it. It remains to be seen how close to its release Maxis Studio will officially announce The Sims 5’s DRM plan and whether it will make use of Denuvo.
Will The Sims 5 be cross-platform?
The Sims 5 is confirmed to have cross-progression and cross-platform compatibility between the PC and mobile versions.
During the 2022 “The Sims Summit Stream Event,” VP of Franchise Creative for The Sims, Lyndsay Pearson, stated that players can play the game across “supported devices” of their choosing.
While the studio has not announced plans for a console version, mainline entries in The Sims are typically released for PC first, followed by a slightly reworked game version later being released for consoles. The Sims 4 was released on consoles over four years after the initial PC release, and the same might happen with The Sims 5.
