Life By You: Unveiled Screenshots Offer Insight into Abandoned Game

Life by You Fans Get Reminded of Its Cancellation Once AgainImprovements Done on Visuals and Character Models Commended by Fans

Following the recent cancellation of Paradox Interactive's highly anticipated life simulation game Life by You, new screenshots of the scrapped project have emerged online. These game screencaps came from the portfolios of former artists and developers who worked on the project, compiled online (X) by user @SimMattically.

The artists and developers cited in the recently posted tweet thread included Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis, who all also shared their works on their personal websites. Lewis, on his GitHub page, detailed how work on animation proceeded, as well as scripting and more for Life by You's lighting, modder tools, shaders, and VFX.

The images shared online showed a closer look at what Life by You could have offered. Fans commented that the game visuals did not look drastically different from the most recent gameplay trailer, but noted several improvements they were glad to see. One fan commented, "We were all superexcited and impatient; and then we all ended up extremely disappointed… :( Could have been a great game !"

As seen in the screenshots, the outfits that looked to be part of the base game feature interesting piece coordinations, which seem suited to various weather cycles and seasons that could have potentially been part of the game. The game's character customization also looked extensive with improved sliders and presets. Additionally, the in-game world looked even more detailed and atmospheric than in earlier trailers.

In a statement following the game's cancellation, Paradox Interactive's Deputy CEO Mattias Lilja explained that the early access release was initially delayed because the game was "lacking in vital areas." "It became clear to us that the road leading to a release that we felt assured about was far too extended and uncertain," Lilja said.

Paradox Interactive CEO Fredrik Wester added at the time, "Life by You had a number of merits 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 pleased with, then we believe it is better to stop."

The cancellation of Life by You came as a shock to many, especially given the buzz surrounding its potential. Life by You was planned for release on PC and was said to compete with EA's iconic "The Sims" series. However, development was abruptly halted, and the game abandoned altogether. Subsequently, Paradox Tectonic, the studio working on the game, was also closed.