Life By You's Cancellation Was A Mistake Says Paradox Interactive's CEO

Paradox Interactive CEO admits key strategic errors, highlighting Life by You cancellation

Paradox Interactive CEO Fredrik Wester openly acknowledged critical missteps in a recent financial report (July 25th), specifically citing the cancellation of the life simulation game, Life by You, as a significant error in judgment.

While the company reported strong overall financial performance driven by established titles like Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis, Wester stated that several projects outside their core strategy game focus encountered serious setbacks. He directly attributed the cancellation of Life by You to these incorrect strategic decisions.

The Life by You project, intended as a foray into the life simulation genre, represented a departure from Paradox's typical strategy game releases. Despite a substantial investment of nearly $20 million and initial promise, the game's June 17th cancellation underscored the company's admission that it failed to meet internal expectations.

Further compounding the challenges, the launches of Cities: Skylines 2 (hampered by performance issues) and Prison Architect 2 (facing repeated delays despite platform certification) added to the company's difficulties. These combined setbacks have prompted a reassessment of Paradox's game development strategies.

Wester emphasized the company's strong foundation built on the success of core franchises like Crusader Kings and Stellaris, highlighting their resilience amidst the self-criticism. The acknowledgement of errors and refocus on core strengths signals Paradox Interactive's commitment to delivering high-quality gaming experiences.