Life By You, which was revealed today at the Paradox Announcement Show, could finally provide life simulation fans with a real alternative to The Sims.
The Life By You announcement was pretty light – a real reveal is scheduled for March 20. The teaser trailer, however, leaves no room for confusion about the game’s objectives. In almost every shot you see someone isometrically peering into their virtual home, complete with the cutaway wall view that’s defined The Sims’ look for over a decade.
In addition to its pedigree, this game has a long history. Paradox’s Tectonic studio is being led by former Sims 2 and 3 developer Rod Humble, and the trailer seems to hint at new features that have been missing from The Sims 3.
It appears as if there is a drivable car in one shot. Other predictions suggest that you will be able to control your simulated people outside of the confines of their home. One of the biggest criticisms of The Sims 4 is the removal of these features, which were part of The Sims 3.
There is one aspect of the game that’s giving potential fans pause at the moment: the technology. Some of those scenes seem very stuttery, and while in-development games are always subject to improvement, it’s a bit concerning to see a public trailer with frame rates you can count by hand. It’s hoped the March 20 presentation will show something a bit tighter, especially since Paradox says the game will be released in 2023.
There are few and far between games like The Sims available. Among the potential competitors, Paralives has been the most exciting, but it has taken years to develop and there is no clear release date yet, so Life By You may just beat it to market. In the meantime, The Sims 5 – or Project Rene, as it’s more appropriately known – is still early in development and apparently “years away.”
