A new open-world life simulation game, Life by You, is already shaping up to be a true rival to The Sims 4. Developer Paradox Tectonic is aiming to deliver the “most moddable and open life simulation game” that lets you build your own families, create your own stories, and design your own world.
It was first revealed back in March during the Paradox Announcement showcase – which also confirmed Cities: Skylines 2’s upcoming release – but Life by You has quickly become one of the most anticipated new games for 2023, with an Early Access launch set for later this year. Now that we’re waiting for that, here’s what we know about Life by You.
Release date and platform information for Life by You
The Steam and Epic Games storefronts will release Life by You in Early Access on September 12, 2023. It has not yet been announced whether a console version will be released, but it may do so in the future. The upcoming life simulator has not been optimized or tested for Steam Deck, and there has been no word on whether this will change at a later date, as it is one of the upcoming PC games on Steam.
Watch the trailer for Life by You
During the showcase, the first Life by You announcement trailer revealed the open-world setting and how we can control anyone at any time. The game also demonstrates some of the interactions controllable humans can have, as well as customizing and creating characters. Several features are similar to The Sims; the more open feel and use of vehicles (hello skateboards!) are reminiscent of The Sims 3.
The pre-order of Life by You is now open
On the Epic Games Store, Life by You is currently available for pre-order in Early Access for the introductory price of $39.99 / £34.99. If you pre-order, you’ll receive the limited-time Life Begins Pack, which includes a Jumpstart Fashion Pack, Vintage Scooter vehicle, and Walls to Floor Decor Pack.
Early Access to Life by You
According to Life by You’s FAQ page, Paradox Tectonic expects the life sim to remain in Early Access for “at least 12 months” so it can grow with players. As development progresses, the Early Access period will be used to gather feedback from players “to determine the ideas and content” for the full launch. In addition to getting behind-the-scenes glimpses, the first 100,000 Early Access players will be able to provide feedback on Life By You’s Discord server.
While most of the additions will be based on feedback from the community, the team has already compiled a wishlist of features they wish to implement, including continuing to develop and improve children characters, who have not yet been fully implemented. The Early Access version of Life by You does not require repurchase when the full version launches, but substantial changes are expected during Early Access, so saves may be affected while the team works on updating features. The company offers players assurances that if anything impacts their saves, they will be notified.
The Paradox Tectonic devs write, “Life is a huge topic, and life simulation is only limited by your imagination. We know there’s a lot we can add with your contributions. This is a huge game, and we can’t wait to work on it with you!”.
The customization of Life by You
The amount of customization Life by You appears to offer makes it an exciting competitor to Sims. Its character creator, which has many features that will allow you to customize your own human, will let you create your own character for the new life sim. Aside from selecting their age and life stage, you can also select their gender, body shape, and gender identity (including non-binary). Besides choosing your character’s look, you can also select their personality and character traits, as well as their background.
You will also be able to build and customize homes and businesses for your controllable humans. This game offers an extensive library of existing lots, and you can place them down while you create other items, shops, and more – it looks like you’ll be able to craft and mold the town as you please.
Based on screenshots and the trailer, the builder and character creation tools also feature color wheels for customizing clothing and decor, which was a beloved feature of Sims games in the past.
An open-world game called Life by You
Unlike other open-world simulations, Life by You is said not to have loading screens. From the trailer, it appears to be quite large, with plenty of green fields and beaches. Various modes of transportation have already been demonstrated, including bikes, cars, buses, and skateboards.
Life by You requires the following systems
Life by Run’s PC release came with both minimum and recommended system requirements, which are listed below:
Minimum Specs
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i5-8600 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB / AMD Radeon R9 380 4GB
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 25 GB available space
Optimized for 30 FPS
Recommended Specs
OS: Windows 10/11
Processor: Intel Core i5-10400F / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB/AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 25 GB available space
Optimized for 30 FPS
