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 recent cancellation of Paradox Interactive's Life by You continues to resonate with fans. Newly surfaced screenshots, compiled from the online portfolios of former developers like Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis, offer a poignant glimpse into the game's potential. Lewis's GitHub page even details animation progress, scripting, and work on lighting, modding tools, shaders, and VFX.

The images reveal improvements beyond what was shown in the final gameplay trailer. While not drastically different, fans have praised enhancements to visuals and character models. One fan expressed their disappointment, highlighting the game's unrealized potential.

The screenshots showcase detailed outfits suitable for various seasons and weather conditions, suggesting a robust wardrobe system. Character customization appears significantly enhanced, with improved sliders and presets. The overall game world also boasts a richer, more atmospheric presentation than previously seen.

Paradox Interactive's Deputy CEO, Mattias Lilja, cited key areas needing improvement as the reason for the early access delay and eventual cancellation. CEO Fredrik Wester emphasized the team's hard work but acknowledged the uncertainty of reaching a satisfactory release.

The cancellation surprised many, given the considerable anticipation surrounding Life by You, a PC title intended to compete with The Sims. The abrupt halt in development led to the closure of Paradox Tectonic, the studio behind the project. These images serve as a bittersweet reminder of a promising life sim that never reached its full potential.