Hi everyone, as always - Niki here!
This post is not easy for me to write. Please read it to the end - it truly means a lot to me.
More than four years ago, Live the Life entered Early Access. Since then, this project has been more than just a game for me - it became a part of my life. I often worked on it without weekends, sacrificing my personal time to bring my vision to life. The game went through a lot: changes, growth, new ideas, experiments. And of course, none of it would’ve been possible without you - those who played, wrote, supported, criticized, believed.
It’s hard to say, but the development of Live the Life is being paused for now.
This decision wasn’t made spontaneously. I’ve mentioned before that the announcement of Inzoi made me reflect on the online mode - it wasn’t the main reason, but it became the catalyst that made me realize something needed to change. And now, I want to share what I didn’t say back then:
Day by day, it became increasingly clear that I simply couldn’t handle it all alone anymore. One person can no longer effectively do everything: write code, test, fix bugs, create content, engage with the community and at the same time think about the future. More and more, I found myself thinking: to move forward, I need to expand.
Without a team, without specialists, without people to share the load with - there won’t be progress.
Things would be different if Live the Life were nearly complete - I wouldn’t even be having this conversation. But the truth is, to bring it to a truly finished, worthy state, I’d need at least as much time as I’ve already spent - again working solo and that’s assuming perfect working conditions.
The paradox is: I’ve hit my limit.
I see where I need to go. I know what changes are required. But I no longer have the resources to take Live the Life to the next level. The amount of work has grown too much, and my possibilities and strength- too little. And I don’t just want to stay afloat - I want to create something truly powerful, something that evolves rather than stagnates.
Now I understand clearly: for the project to truly grow and evolve, my efforts alone are no longer enough. What’s needed is a real leap forward - and that means expansion in every sense: possibilities, resources and most importantly, a team. This isn’t just a wish - it’s a necessity. To build a truly strong product that can attract a wider audience and reach a new level, I need a team. People to share the workload. That would give the project the momentum it needs and finally open the door to a stable, confidently developing future.
But in order to build such a team, I need to create a product that can appeal to a broader audience, offering something unique and exciting. And I’ve found the balance: it lies in the potential of the game itself - it has every chance of becoming that product, starting from a clean slate and avoiding past mistakes. If I manage to attract a wider audience, I’ll be able to form a team and move forward with renewed strength to bring all my ideas to life.
I’ve decided not to fight the limitations anymore, but to go beyond them - and move forward in a new format.
Today, I’m announcing a new vision.
This isn’t just a “transition.” This is my attempt to create something I’ve long dreamed of, but couldn’t realize within the framework of the old project. A fresh start - with a new approach, a new foundation, and, hopefully over time - a new team that I dream of building around it. I believe this new game can help expand the audience, make the experience deeper, more engaging and most importantly - complete and alive. It also creates an opportunity to grow a real team.
At first, this was going to be just an online mode - a part of the main project. But the deeper I went, the more I felt: it couldn’t fully unfold in that format. It’s no longer just an add-on - it’s its own thing, with its own potential, its own life. I realized that if I wanted to do it right, I had to give this idea its own space.
In this new game, all the ideas finally find their proper place and start working the way they should. Thanks to its online foundation, the project becomes more diverse and alive. What would’ve taken years of solo development in Live the Life is now being achieved faster and on a larger scale. But it’s not magic - it’s a different structure, a different pace and the right focus.
I know a lot of people might be wondering: why not continue the old game if you’re already working on the online one?
The answer is: resources. What has already been implemented in the new project would’ve taken at least two or three times more effort if I tried to integrate it into the old game. I’m pouring my last available resources into this step. And if I kept clinging to the old project - I might not have been able to finish anything at all.
This decision isn’t about giving up - it’s about giving something truly big a real chance to grow.
To be precise: I can already see that online offers a richer and more engaging gameplay experience than offline. The offline version would need years to achieve something like that."
I’m not ruling out coming back to the offline mode someday. I would really love to. But that will require more: team of professional who can implement good and deep mechanics, time and resources. And I want to be honest: this is not a promise - but it is a goal that I carry with me. Right now, I’m focusing every last bit of energy and opportunity on polishing this game. My goal is to fix every possible issue, perfect everything, and make sure the project meets the level of quality it deserves.
I’m not rushing the release of the new game, because I want it to be solid, complete and ready for players to truly enjoy. It’s important to me that this isn’t just a project, but a game that truly deserves attention and gives players the best possible experience.
For everyone who already owns Live the Life, the new game will be free.
This is my way of saying thank you. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who ever supported the project. Who believed, who played, who shared their thoughts. Without you, none of this would exist.
I understand some of you might be unhappy with this decision. It wasn’t easy for me either. But sometimes, to survive - and more importantly, to grow - you have to let go of the past and take a risk.
It’s a step on the edge. Maybe even a turning point. I’m risking a lot by making this shift. But I firmly believe it’s the right move - because it’s the best possible decision for this moment.
I believe in the new concept with all my heart. It opens up a real path to growth, development and the level this project truly deserves. I’m going all-in on this - and I’m doing it with full awareness.
If you resonate with my vision — I’ll be incredibly grateful for any support. Right now, more than ever, your involvement matters: spread the word, tell your friends, leave feedback, or simply stick around for this new chapter. It helps not only the project grow - but also keeps me going in the hardest moments. I genuinely want to keep developing the game, building a team, moving forward - and without your support, that would be so much harder.
Thank you for your understanding.
Allow me to introduce a new online project:
The Life Together Online
Live, socialize, create! The Life Together Online is a unique online life simulator where every character is a real player. Work, make friends, customize your home, attend parties and travel. Complete freedom - choose your path and become part of a living world!
Read more on Steam Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3602040/The_Life_Together_Online/
Thank you!
And see you in the new game.
Niki the Developer