The New Sims Competition ‘Life By You’ Cancelled
After several delays and postponements of its early access release date (originally set for September 2023, then pushed to March 2024, and later to June) Paradox evaluated the project and decided that the game still “lacked key areas” and that the path to a version that met their standards was too uncertain. Despite strengths and community hope, the developers felt it would not be possible to deliver a product they would be satisfied with. Learn more.
What Was Life By You?
Life by You was a life simulation game being developed by Paradox Interactive and their studio Paradox Tectonic. It promised features similar to The Sims: full customization, open-world simulation, building and designing homes, detailed character interactions, and a real-time simulated town with minimal loading.
What Happened?
The highly anticipated Life By You was officially cancelled on June 17, 2024, after months of delays and uncertainty. Originally revealed in May 2023, Life By You was positioned as the most promising competitor to The Sims 4, boasting features like an open world, real-language dialogue, full mod support, and deep player-driven customization.
Fans were excited about its Early Access launch, initially set for September 12, 2023, later postponed to March 2024, and then again to June 4, 2024 (a date that never came).
On the morning of June 17, 2024, Paradox Interactive released an official statement confirming the game’s cancellation, alongside the closure of its developer studio, Paradox Tectonic.
Why It Was Cancelled
According to Paradox Interactive’s Deputy CEO Mattias Lilja, the decision was ultimately about quality and feasibility:
“A version we’d be satisfied with is too far away. The road to get there is far too long and uncertain.”
He also admitted that despite their ambitions, Life By You “wasn’t clearly better than The Sims 4 in any of its main areas.”
This candid statement reflects the company’s realization that competing with The Sims — a series refined over decades — would require not just ambition, but polish and scale that the project couldn’t reach in time.
The following day, June 18, 2024, Paradox Interactive confirmed it had shut down Paradox Tectonic, the Berkeley-based studio led by The Sims 2 and Second Life veteran Rod Humble.
What the Game Promised
Before its cancellation, Life By You was shaping up to be one of the most ambitious life sims ever attempted. Its features included:
A true open world with no loading screens between lots.
Real, understandable dialogue, with characters speaking actual text instead of gibberish.
Full customization — from characters and homes to vehicles, careers, and conversations.
Extensive modding tools built directly into the game’s design.
Early Access availability planned for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Paradox Tectonic marketed the game as a platform for creativity — one that would let players rewrite everyday life with limitless control.
Community & Industry Reaction
The cancellation sparked widespread disappointment and discussion across gaming communities. On Reddit and social media, many fans expressed sadness but not surprise, noting how the repeated delays and lack of gameplay updates hinted at internal struggles.
Industry analysts viewed it as a missed opportunity — but also a reminder of the risks involved in creating life-simulation games. The Sims remains one of the most complex genres to replicate because it blends AI systems, open-world design, and endless customization.
Many pointed out that Paradox’s decision, while disappointing, was better than releasing an unfinished or broken product, which could have damaged both player trust and the studio’s reputation.
What This Means for Cozy & Life-Sim Fans
For cozy-game lovers and life-sim fans, Life By You’s cancellation is a tough blow, it was shaping up to be one of the few serious contenders to The Sims. However, there’s still hope. A promising project is in the works that might fill the void.
Similar Games
1. Paralives (upcoming) – An indie life-sim with detailed building tools, unique character customization, and a wholesome art style. It continues to develop steadily with transparent community updates.
2. Tiny Life – A charming indie title that pays homage to early Sims games with pixel-style graphics and sandbox mechanics.
3. Coral Island – While not a full life-sim, its farming, relationships, and town-life elements give off the cozy, slice-of-life feel that many Life By You fans were hoping for.
Final Thoughts
Life By You was a bold project that captured the imagination of gamers longing for a new kind of life simulator — one built on creativity, openness, and community. Its cancellation is a disappointing reminder of how difficult it is to compete in this genre.
Still, the dream of a new, player-driven life-sim isn’t over. The momentum built by Life By You’s hype has encouraged indie developers and major studios alike to take the genre more seriously.
So while Life By You may never see the light of day, its influence on the future of cozy and life simulation games might be just beginning.