Glimpse of 'Life By You' Revealed in Leaked Screenshots

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 portfolios of former developers like Richard Kho, Eric Maki, and Chris Lewis (whose detailed GitHub contributions highlight animation, scripting, lighting, and more), offer a poignant glimpse into the game's potential.

These images, circulating on X (formerly Twitter), showcase advancements in visuals and character models. While not drastically different from the final trailer, fans have noted significant improvements. Comments highlight the detailed outfits suitable for various seasons, the enhanced character customization with improved sliders and presets, and a richer, more atmospheric game world. One fan expressed the widespread disappointment, stating, "We were all superexcited and impatient; and then we all ended up extremely disappointed… :( Could have been a great game!"

Paradox Interactive's explanation for the cancellation cited shortcomings in key areas and an uncertain path to a satisfactory release. Deputy CEO Mattias Lilja stated the road to a confident release was "far too long and uncertain," while CEO Fredrik Wester emphasized the team's hard work but acknowledged the decision to halt development was made when further time wouldn't yield a satisfactory result.

The cancellation surprised many, given the anticipation surrounding Life by You, a PC title poised to compete with EA's The Sims franchise. The abrupt shutdown of development and the closure of Paradox Tectonic, the studio behind the project, left fans with a sense of unrealized potential.