Unveiled Screenshots Hint at 'Life by You's' Promise

The cancellation of Paradox Interactive's Life by You continues to resonate with fans, especially after recently surfaced screenshots showcased the game's significant progress.

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

Fans Praise Visual and Character Model Refinements

Following Paradox Interactive's decision to cancel Life by You, images from the project have appeared online, offering a glimpse into the game's development. These screenshots, compiled on Twitter (X) by @SimMattically, originate from the portfolios of former developers including Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis, who also shared their work on personal sites. Lewis's GitHub page details animation, scripting, and other aspects, including lighting, mod tools, shaders, and VFX.

The shared images reveal a more polished Life by You than previously seen. While not drastically different from the final gameplay trailer, fans noted improvements in various areas. One fan expressed their disappointment, highlighting the game's unrealized potential.

The screenshots display detailed outfits suitable for different weather conditions and seasons, suggesting a robust seasonal system. Character customization appears extensive, with refined sliders and presets. The overall game world boasts increased detail and atmosphere compared to earlier previews.

Paradox Interactive's Deputy CEO, Mattias Lilja, explained the cancellation, stating the early access release was delayed due to key areas needing significant improvement. The path to a satisfactory release was deemed too lengthy and uncertain. CEO Fredrik Wester echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the team's hard work but ultimately concluding that further development wouldn't yield a product meeting their standards.

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 led to the closure of Paradox Tectonic, the studio behind the project.