The cancellation of Paradox Interactive's life simulator, Life by You, continues to resonate with fans. Recently surfaced screenshots, shared by former developers on their personal portfolios and compiled on X (formerly Twitter) by @SimMattically, offer a poignant glimpse into the game's potential.
Life by You's Cancellation: A Look at What Might Have Been
Fan Appreciation for Visual and Character Model Enhancements
The images, sourced from the portfolios of Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis, showcase significant advancements in visuals and character models. Chris Lewis's GitHub page provides further insight into the game's animation, scripting, lighting, modder tools, shaders, and VFX.
While the overall aesthetic aligns with previous trailers, fans have highlighted notable improvements. Comments express both excitement over the potential and disappointment at the game's cancellation. The detailed screenshots reveal sophisticated outfit coordination suitable for diverse weather conditions and seasons, extensive character customization options with enhanced sliders and presets, and a richer, more atmospheric game world than previously shown.
Paradox Interactive's explanation for the cancellation cited delays stemming from perceived shortcomings in key areas. Deputy CEO Mattias Lilja stated that the path to a satisfactory release was deemed too lengthy and uncertain. CEO Fredrik Wester emphasized the team's dedication but acknowledged that further development wouldn't yield a product meeting their standards.
The abrupt cancellation surprised many, given the considerable anticipation surrounding Life by You, a PC title intended to compete with EA's The Sims franchise. The project's termination also resulted in the closure of Paradox Tectonic, the studio responsible for its development.
