Life By You: Lost Features Revealed in Leaked Screenshots

Following the cancellation of Paradox Interactive's life sim game, Life by You, screenshots of the canceled project have recently surfaced online showing the developers' progress.

Life by You Fans Re-Reminded of Its CancellationVisual and Character Model Enhancements Praised by Fans

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

The artists and developers mentioned in the recent tweet thread included Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis, who also showcased their work on their personal websites. Lewis, on his GitHub page, detailed animation progress, scripting, and more for Life by You's lighting, modding tools, shaders, and VFX.

The images shared on social media offered a closer look at Life by You's potential. Fans commented that the game visuals weren't drastically different from the latest gameplay trailer, but noted several welcome improvements. 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 base game outfits featured interesting combinations, seemingly suited to various weather conditions and seasons. The game's character customization also appeared extensive with improved sliders and presets. Furthermore, the in-game world looked 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 postponed because the game was "deficient in some key areas." "It became clear to us that the path to a release we felt confident about was far too protracted and uncertain," Lilja said.

Paradox Interactive CEO Fredrik Wester added at the time, "Life by You possessed numerous strengths and benefited from the diligent work of a devoted team. However, when we reached a point where we believed that additional time would not bring us sufficiently close to a version we would be satisfied with, then we believed it was preferable to halt development."

The cancellation of Life by You came as a surprise to many, especially given the excitement surrounding its potential. Life by You was planned for release on PC and was touted as a competitor to EA's iconic "The Sims" series. However, development was abruptly terminated, and the game cancelled outright. Subsequently, Paradox Tectonic, the studio developing the game, was also closed.