Life by You: Lost Dev Screenshots Revealed

Following the cancellation of Paradox Interactive's life simulation game, Life by You, recently surfaced screenshots offer a poignant glimpse into the game's development progress.

Life by You Fans Relive the Cancellation's Sting

Visual and Character Model Improvements Impress Fans

New screenshots of the canceled Life by You have emerged online, sourced from the portfolios of former artists and developers. @SimMattically on Twitter (X) compiled these images, crediting Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis, who also showcased their work on personal websites. Lewis's GitHub page details animation progress, scripting, and work on lighting, modding tools, shaders, and VFX for the game.

The images reveal a more polished Life by You than previously seen. While not drastically different from the final gameplay trailer, fans highlighted noticeable improvements. One fan commented, "We were all superexcited and impatient; and then we all ended up extremely disappointed… :( Could have been a great game!"

The screenshots showcase detailed outfits suitable for various seasons and weather conditions, suggesting a robust wardrobe system. Character customization appears significantly enhanced, boasting improved sliders and presets. The overall game world also presents a more refined and atmospheric look compared to earlier trailers.

Following the cancellation, Paradox Interactive's Deputy CEO, Mattias Lilja, explained that the initial delay of the early access release stemmed from the game's shortcomings in "key areas." Lilja stated, "It became clear to us that the road leading to a release that we felt confident about was far too long and uncertain."

Paradox Interactive CEO Fredrik Wester added, "Life by You had a number of strengths and the hard work of a dedicated team that went into realizing them. However, when we come to a point where we believe that more time will not get us close enough to a version we would be satisfied with, then we believe it is better to stop."

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