Former Devs Share Insights into Life By You's Abandoned Genesis

Recently surfaced screenshots, shared by former Life by You developers, offer a poignant glimpse into Paradox Interactive's cancelled life simulator. The images reveal the significant progress made before the project's abrupt termination.

Life by You's Cancellation: A Second Look at Lost Potential

Fans Praise Visual and Character Model Refinements

Following Paradox Interactive's decision to cancel Life by You, new screenshots have surfaced online, showcasing the game's advanced development stage. Compiled on Twitter (X) by @SimMattically, these images originate from the portfolios of former artists and developers, including Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis. Lewis's GitHub page provides further insight into the animation, scripting, lighting, mod tools, shaders, and VFX work.

The shared images offer a more detailed view of Life by You's potential. While not drastically different from the final gameplay trailer, fans have highlighted noticeable improvements. One comment aptly summarizes the collective disappointment: "We were all superexcited and impatient; and then we all ended up extremely disappointed… :( Could have been a great game !"

The screenshots demonstrate impressive detail in character outfits, suggesting a system adaptable to various weather conditions and seasons. Character customization appears extensive, featuring refined sliders and presets. The overall game world boasts a richer, more atmospheric look compared to earlier previews.

Paradox Interactive's Deputy CEO, Mattias Lilja, explained the cancellation, citing the game's shortcomings in "key areas" and the uncertain timeline for a satisfactory release. CEO Fredrik Wester echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team's dedication but acknowledging the impracticality of further development.

The cancellation surprised many, especially given the anticipation surrounding Life by You, a PC title intended to compete with EA's "The Sims" franchise. The abrupt shutdown resulted in the closure of Paradox Tectonic, the studio behind the project.