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

Life by You's Cancellation: A Look at What Could Have Been

The unexpected cancellation of Paradox Interactive's Life by You continues to resonate with fans. Recently surfaced screenshots, shared by former developers on platforms like Twitter (X) and personal websites, offer a poignant glimpse into the game's progress and potential.

These images, compiled by @SimMattically, showcase the work of artists and developers including Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis. Lewis's GitHub page provides further insight into the animation, scripting, lighting, modder tools, shaders, and VFX development.

While the visuals aren't drastically different from the final gameplay trailer, fans have highlighted noticeable improvements. Comments express both excitement for the advancements and disappointment over the game's cancellation. The screenshots reveal detailed character customization with enhanced sliders and presets, intriguing outfit designs suitable for various seasons, and a richer, more atmospheric game world.

Paradox Interactive's explanation for the cancellation cited significant shortcomings requiring extensive, uncertain development time. Deputy CEO Mattias Lilja stated the game was "lacking in some key areas," making a satisfactory release too distant a prospect. CEO Fredrik Wester emphasized the team's dedication but concluded that further development wouldn't yield a sufficiently polished product.

The cancellation surprised many, given the anticipation surrounding Life by You as a potential competitor to EA's The Sims franchise. The abrupt halt to development resulted in the closure of Paradox Tectonic, the studio behind the project. The released screenshots serve as a bittersweet reminder of a game that never was.