Get ready, The Sims 4 – series creator Will Wright is making a comeback with a brand-new game over ten years after his last, and although it’s still a life simulation, it appears vastly different from its forerunners.
Sixteen years have passed since Spore debuted in 2008, and the iconic Sims developer Will Wright has kept a low profile since. However, he’s preparing to return with an exciting venture, which is a groundbreaking AI life simulation named Proxi. In a recent broadcast on Twitch, Wright discusses Proxi, showcasing parts of the game while stressing Gallium Studios’ goal: “to create digital beings that live, care, and evolve with us.”
The game uniquely incorporates player’s own real-life memories to craft experiences, enabling astonishingly personal gameplay. If this seems like a complex task to achieve, it’s true—but Wright believes that Proxi’s personalized approach within the life simulation genre is the right path, and his extensive experience supports this conviction. “I found myself getting increasingly closer to the player,” Wright states.
“I’ve always believed,” he continues, “that no game designer has ever gone wrong by overestimating the self-importance of their players.” He is correct – we exist in an era of profound customization and personalization. Millions of Sims 4 mods serve as evidence, along with highly realistic character creators like rival life sim inZOI’s. Out of all the ways to personalize a player’s experience, however, utilizing memories may reign supreme.
Through memories, Proxi fills its “mind world” or in-game environment with recognizable individuals for players to interact with. They can recall real people from their school, workplace, or any other noteworthy situation. However, these figures aren’t meant to fully replace friends— the aim of the project is to “enhance, not substitute human-to-human relationships.” Think of them as digital companions, but more sophisticated than beloved virtual pets like Tamagotchis or Webkinz.
I’m still uncertain about how I feel regarding all this, as I don’t want to become invested only to find it doesn’t come to fruition as was the case recently with Life by You. Considering EA’s new strategy for The Sims 4 and Project Rene, though, I’m yearning for something larger and more innovative than ever before – and Proxi seems like it could be just that. Now, all I need to do is get outside, connect with the real world, and create memories so that Proxi can transform them into gameplay.
Looking for something to play while awaiting Proxi? Here are 10 games similar to The Sims 4 to check out right away.