Month in purgatory: Paradox dev spills on Life by You ordeal

Paradox Interactive has canceled "Life by You," a life simulation game positioned as a competitor to "The Sims." The game's development team at Tectonic studio in Berkeley, California, faced significant turmoil before the studio’s abrupt closure. Despite exceeding internal metrics, the game was delayed multiple times before being indefinitely postponed just two weeks before its planned launch date. Paradox’s CEO Fredrik Wester cited that the game would not meet quality expectations as the reason for cancellation. This shutdown is part of a broader trend of layoffs within the gaming industry, with companies like Microsoft, Sony, and Embracer also making significant cuts. Paradox has been struggling with recent releases like "Cities Skylines 2" and "The Lamplighters League," affecting its financial stability and reputation.

"Life by You" was canceled because Paradox Interactive determined that the game would not meet their quality expectations. CEO Fredrik Wester explained that a satisfying version of the game was too far from being realized, leading to the difficult decision to halt its release and close the Tectonic studio.

"Life by You" was designed to be a highly moddable life simulation game, allowing extensive user-generated content (UGC). It aimed to provide a fresh alternative to EA’s long-standing and popular franchise, "The Sims." The game's development started in 2019, and it was highly anticipated by fans eager for a new competitor in the genre. Unfortunately, internal delays and strategic decisions led to its untimely end. Paradox Interactive is known for other successful titles such as "Crusader Kings" and "Stellaris," yet has recently faced several high-profile setbacks.