Paralives Enters Early Access on Steam at $39.99 as Sims Rival Launches After Seven Years of Development

Paralives, a long-in-the-making indie life simulation game positioned as an alternative to The Sims, has launched in Steam Early Access with a price of $39.99. The game has been in development by Paralives Studio for about seven years.

The developer has indicated that the price will increase once the game leaves Early Access, which is expected to happen in roughly two years, according to its Steam page.

This launch comes as the Sims franchise appears to have slowed down, with The Sims 4 expansion content now costing nearly $1,500 to purchase in full. Additionally, the next mainline Sims game has been confirmed as a mobile-only release.

What Paralives Includes at Launch

Paralives is a life simulation game similar to The Sims. In the game, characters are called Paras. Players can create and customize these characters in detail, including layered clothing, layered makeup, and adjustable height. They can also build and decorate homes with a wide range of options.

Paras can be sent to work, develop hobbies, and interact with other townsfolk. The game allows for forming friendships, romantic relationships, and family units within a small-town environment. A recent eight-minute trailer showcased character creation, home building, and the core simulation systems.

Paralives Studio emphasizes its commitment to offering only free expansions for the game, setting it apart from The Sims. The studio has stated that there will be no paid downloadable content. Features that in The Sims are typically part of paid expansion packs will be included in Paralives as free updates.

Features Coming in Future Paralives Updates

Paralives Studio has announced that several features will not be available at launch but are planned for free updates later on. These include family trees, pets such as dogs, cats, and horses, pools, gardening, cars, weather effects, and social events like parties and weddings.

The developer explained on the Steam page that releasing in Early Access allows players to use the current systems while providing feedback to help improve the game before its full release.

The team at Paralives Studio is small, and they consider Early Access to be the most practical approach given the wide range of features they aim to support.

Why Paralives Matters for Life Simulation Fans

The Sims has maintained a dominant position in the life simulation genre for many years. Paralives has cultivated a dedicated following during its lengthy development process, thanks to active community engagement and a focus on accessibility and customization options that fans of The Sims have long requested.

For those thinking about switching, the Early Access price of $39.99 grants access to the current build along with all upcoming free updates. The two-year Early Access period allows the game to receive significant updates before it reaches its final version.

Paralives is now available on Steam in Early Access for both Windows and macOS.

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