Fans of cozy life simulators got some sad news today. Paradox Interactive has announced Life By You, their highly anticipated life simulator, has been shelved. This is disappointing for fans of the project since it was seen as competition for EA’s The Sims series.
The Life By You Cancellation
The cancellation of Life By You was announced in a Paradox forum post by Deputy CEO Mattias Lilja. Lilja mentions that the decision was difficult and a failure on Paradox’s part to meet expectations.
Lilja continues stating the developers were given a fair shot to realize the game’s potential, citing two different delays as well as choosing to hold off on an Early Access release.
A few weeks back, we decided to hold off on an Early Access release in order to re-evaluate Life by You, as we still felt that the game was lacking in some key areas. Though a time extension was an option, once we took that pause to get a wider view of the game, it became clear to us that the road leading to a release that we felt confident about was far too long and uncertain. This is not to say the game has not shown any promising qualities; Life by You had a number of strengths and the hard work of a dedicated team that went into realizing them. However, when we come to a point where we believe that more time will not get us close enough to a version we would be satisfied with, then we believe it is better to stop. This is obviously tough and disappointing for everyone who poured their time and enthusiasm into this project, especially when our decision comes so late in the process.
Overall, Lilja’s explanation of Life By You’s cancellation is measured and principled; putting accountability on management. It puts into perspective the promises and ambition the game touted on its Steam storepage. It also sours our preview of the game, which held promise.
The cancellation of Life By You is a shame for fans of the recent trend of cozy games. Life simulators are built around pleasant suburban environments and a relaxed atmosphere. These have included high profile releases like Disney Dreamlight Valley, and smaller indie titles like Cozy Grove.
