Life By You Screenshots Shared by Former Devs Provide Glimpse of What Could've Been

Recently surfaced screenshots offer a poignant glimpse into the potential of Paradox Interactive's cancelled life simulator, Life by You. These images, shared online by former developers, highlight the considerable progress made before the project's unfortunate demise.

Life by You's Cancellation: A Second Look

Fan Acclaim for Visual and Character Model Enhancements

The cancellation of Life by You continues to resonate with fans, especially after the recent release of new screenshots. These images, compiled on Twitter (X) by @SimMattically, showcase the work of former artists and developers including Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis, who also shared their contributions on personal websites and portfolios. Lewis's GitHub page, for example, details animation processes, scripting, and other aspects of the game's lighting, modding tools, shaders, and visual effects.

The images reveal a refined visual experience. While not dramatically different from the final gameplay trailer, fans have pointed out significant improvements. One fan expressed their disappointment, stating, "We were all so excited, then incredibly let down… :( It could have been amazing!"

The screenshots highlight detailed outfits suitable for various weather conditions and seasons, suggesting a robust seasonal system. Character customization appears extensive, boasting improved sliders and presets. Overall, the game world looks richer and more atmospheric than previously shown.

Paradox Interactive's Deputy CEO, Mattias Lilja, explained the cancellation, citing shortcomings in key areas that would have required extensive and uncertain development time to address. CEO Fredrik Wester echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team's dedication but acknowledging the impracticality of continuing development towards a satisfactory release.

The abrupt cancellation of Life by You, intended as a PC competitor to EA's Sims franchise, surprised many given the considerable anticipation. The closure of Paradox Tectonic, the studio behind the game, followed shortly after.