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Roadmap and Planned Features - Version 20 vs Version 21
Jun 3, 2026, 09:50 AM
Normalized a word-range en-dash to "June to September" for consistent typography
Jun 8, 2026, 11:07 PM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
11Paralives launches into Steam Early Access on Monday, May 25, 2026, at $39.99 USD on PC and macOS. The Early Access period is expected to last approximately two years, after which the game will exit Early Access with a 1.0 release. Throughout the Early Access window, content updates will arrive as free patches under the studio's no-paid-DLC commitment.22This article is the canonical reference for the Day 1 vs post-launch feature split, as confirmed in the May 7, 2026 Early Access feature recap. Where prior drafts grouped pets, vehicles, swimming, weather, and other major systems as launch content, this version reflects the explicit Day 1 carveouts the studio has now published. For the broader Early Access framing, pricing, and language support, see Early Access. For the studio's broader history, see Paralives Studio and Development History.44Launch-Week Pricing and Post-Release Cadence66On May 22, 2026, ahead of the Monday launch, the studio published the post-release roadmap and a launch-week pricing detail. The summary below collects the dated milestones the studio committed to in that announcement. The roadmap is explicitly subject to change as the studio responds to the launch build's stability and community feedback.88WindowFocusMay 25, 2026Early Access launch at $39.99 USD with a 10% launch-week discount, bringing the launch price to $35.99 USD with Steam regional pricing applied.June to September 2026Performance optimization, bug fixes, tweaks to existing features, and quality-of-life improvements. The studio has indicated this period will not introduce new systems; the goal is to stabilize the Day 1 build before content updates begin.Q4 2026First major content update. The studio has not yet named the specific content that will land in this window, but it is the first scheduled content drop after the stabilization phase.Approximately two yearsRolling free updates rolling out the post-launch features listed below (pets, weather and seasons, vehicles, pools, swimming, basements, gardening, fishing, social events, family tree, calendar, town editor, calling and online chatting, and more). The studio has not committed to a fixed quarterly cadence beyond Q4 2026's first major update.1010The launch-week discount is a one-time pricing event tied to the May 25 launch. After the discount window, the price returns to $39.99 USD and rises further as content is added throughout Early Access. Players who buy at any point during Early Access receive every future update for free under the no-paid-DLC commitment.1111Day 1 Launch on May 25, 20261313The launch build covers the three core gameplay pillars and the systems that anchor them. The table below collects the systems and venues that are confirmed Day 1.1515SystemConfirmed Scope at LaunchParamakerGender-neutral base preset, sliders for chest, hips, buttocks, and height; color wheel for skin, hair, and eye colors; asymmetry options for eye color and clothing accessories; layered clothing top mixing; tattoos; gender-identity assignment independent of body presentationBuild ModeColor wheel for every object and surface, curved walls and walls at any angle, optional grid-less placement for walls AND objects, split-level platforms, multi-floor construction, object resizing via corner anchors, in-game measuring tape, stairs, roofs, fences, basic terrain toolsLive ModeOpen-world town with no loading screens between lots, day-night cycle, character autonomy, multi-Parafolk group selection, personality traits, emotions, wants, needs, skillsCareers11 named domains; named workplaces at Bloom, Headlines, Museum, SuperGamezPlus Inc., schools, and cafes; rabbit-hole shifts at launch; daily upgrade choice via the Expertise System; multi-job mechanic when schedules alignExpertise SystemRank Upgrade, Expertise Upgrade, Extra Upgrade branches; Application Points hiring; cross-domain expertise transferCooking SystemFull cooking system covering recipes and food spoilageEconomy and BillsWeekly lot tax, electricity, water cycle; paradime balance shared across the householdPregnancy and BirthConfirmed Day 1; aging and death also Day 1LifestagesBaby (Sasha), Toddler, Child (Eli), Preteen, Teenager, Young Adult, Adult, Elder all Day 1Fire and DeathConfirmed Day 1 death-cause setTown VenuesMuseum, L'Armoire, Market Antiques, Bloom, Headlines, SuperGamezPlus Inc., Premium Gym, Creme Cafe, The Story Nook, Chez Maurice, schoolsTown EventsPark Yoga (Sun / Tue / Thu, Fitness skill), Marketplace (Sun, oddities and painter stalls), Astronomy Club (Mon / Wed / Fri, Science skill at the mountaintop), Buried Treasure Hunt (Thu, around 20 build-mode-asset chests across town and the castle exterior)TransportationPL130 bus line and Bus Stops; 3 paradimes per rideModding and Steam WorkshopDay 1 in-game modding tools and Workshop publishing; Control Panel via Ctrl+F2; mod storage under AppData LocalLow ParalivesSoundtrack and MusicContextual Live Mode music; 16 mixed and mastered tracks + 12 radio tracks; custom radio music supported via moddingPhoto ModePhoto Mode capture; assets are moddable; time-of-day adjustment, animation frame selection, filters, depth of field, bloom, frames, and stickersAnimations and Ambient Animations191 new animations added in 2025; 11 new ambient town animations with confirmed variations; walk styles vary by personality + emotional state + life stageHelp MenuIn-game help menu introduced March 24, 20261717Post-Launch Free Updates1818Several systems are confirmed for free updates during the Early Access period rather than at Day 1. The table below collects the post-launch additions the studio has explicitly named. Specific patch dates are intentionally not committed.2020FeatureStatusPets (dogs, cats, horses)Free update during Early AccessVehicles (cars, bikes)Free update during Early AccessBoats and houseboatsFree update during Early AccessSwimming and poolsFree update during Early AccessWeather and seasonsFree update during Early AccessCalendarFree update during Early AccessFamily tree UIFree update during Early Access; genetics system itself is Day 1, but the family-tree viewer is post-launchGardeningFree update during Early AccessFishingFree update during Early AccessStory progression for NPCsFree update during Early AccessOrganized social events (weddings, parties)Free update during Early AccessTown editing tools and new district creationFree update during Early AccessAdvanced roof and stair toolsFree update during Early AccessBasementsFree update during Early AccessCurved doors and windowsFree update during Early AccessPet creation toolsFree update during Early Access (after the pets update lands)Calling Paras over the phone and chatting onlineFree update during Early Access; carved out of Day 1 explicitly2222Each of these will arrive as a free patch under the no-paid-DLC commitment. The studio has explicitly avoided committing to specific patch dates while the launch build stabilizes. The ordering of updates will be shaped by community feedback, technical opportunity, and the team's evolving priorities during Early Access. See Community for the broader community-engagement framing.2323Deferred or Carved Out2525The following features have either been explicitly deferred or were never on the roadmap. Players should treat them as not promised.2727FeatureReason / StatusScript modsNot supported at launch; under consideration for a later date but no commitmentConsole versionsNot planned; PC and macOS onlyMobile versionsNot planned; PC and macOS onlyController and Steam Deck supportNot confirmed for launch; keyboard and mouse are the supported inputMultiplayer or co-opNot planned; single-player onlyMature content (drugs, gore, murder, sexual violence, pornography)Excluded by the Teen-rating targetOccult / supernatural characters (vampires, werewolves)Targeted for post-Early Access, not part of the EA roadmap windowCross-platform multiplayer or cloud sharing of householdsNot planned; the game is single-player and local-only3030Building, Building Mode, and Customization3131Build Mode continues to grow through Early Access. Day 1 covers the core toolset, but several advanced toggles arrive later.3333Curved doors and windows arrive post-launchBasement construction arrives post-launchAdvanced roof tools (more roof shapes, dormers, complex overhangs) arrive post-launchAdvanced stair tools (spiral stairs, custom landings) arrive post-launchTown editing tools that let players add or modify districts arrive post-launchPool tools arrive post-launch alongside swimming3535Live Mode Expansions3737Live Mode systems also expand during Early Access. The post-launch list below mixes lifestyle, parenting, and routine-life additions.3939Pet creation tools and pet behavior, after pets shipCalendar integration so household members can schedule eventsFamily tree UI to visualize relationships and ancestryStory progression for NPCs so the wider town ages and lives independentlyCalling and online chatting so social systems reach across the townGardening, fishing, and additional hobbies that expand the hobby libraryAdditional traits, vibes, and lifestyles to deepen personality customization4141Paramaker Additions4343Paramaker also gains content during Early Access. The launch toolset is already broad, but planned additions include:4545More hairstyles and clothing optionsPitch sliders for voice variationMore Vibes, Talents, and Social PerksExpanded asymmetry hooks for additional accessory categoriesModding support for Vibes, Talents, Social Perks, Together Cards, and Relationship labels4747Modding Roadmap4949Modding and Steam Workshop is Day 1, but the modding toolkit also expands during Early Access. The Day 1 toolkit covers Build Mode assets, Paramaker assets, Photo Mode assets, careers, genetics, rabbit holes, recipes, TV channels, relationship labels, together cards, vibes, wants, food, and custom radio music. Planned additions during Early Access include broader asset categories, additional file format support, and more granular configuration hooks. Script mods remain under consideration without a firm timeline.5151Recent Showcase Highlights5353Several April and May 2026 dev showcases helped tighten expectations for the launch build.5555DateTopicNotesApril 2, 2026Town Events ShowcaseFirst public look at scheduled town events including the Sunday marketplace and the Thursday Buried Treasure HuntApril 7, 2026New Building Sneak PeekReveal of an additional commercial building added to the open worldApril 9, 2026Museum ShowcaseReveal of the in-town museum venue with the collectibles donation pipelineApril 14, 2026Town AnimationsAmbient town animations layered onto venues and pedestriansApril 23, 2026Walking AnimationsNew walking animation set driven by Vibes, Emotions, and LifestagesMay 5, 2026Early Access Golden RecapInternal milestone marker that locked the planned Day 1 buildMay 7, 2026Early Access Features RecapExplicit Day 1 vs post-launch carveouts; this article's canonical source5858Long-Term 1.0 Goals5959The studio has indicated that the 1.0 release, targeted for sometime in 2028, will collect every Early Access free update plus additional content. Beyond the post-launch feature list, the studio has noted several stretch goals that may or may not land by 1.0:6161Additional death types beyond the launch setDeeper parenting gameplay and a simple child-services systemBaby carriers for transporting babies around the worldLibrary and bookshop venue typesAdditional retail venue types with ordering and delivery systemsCell towers and broader NPC communication systemsNon-life-threatening illnessesObjects that influence Parafolk emotions and behavior in finer-grained ways6363None of these stretch goals are committed to a specific patch. They reflect the studio's broader direction rather than a guaranteed feature schedule.6565How the Roadmap Will Evolve6767Roadmaps in long-running Early Access games shift as priorities change. The Paralives team has been candid that the Day 1 build is the starting point for an iterative, feedback-driven Early Access window of approximately two years. Players who join at launch should expect both a steady stream of free updates and occasional reshufflings of the order in which planned features arrive. The studio plans to communicate roadmap changes through its public posts and patch notes as they happen, rather than committing to a fixed quarterly cadence.69691.0 Target Year7171The studio has stated the Early Access window is expected to last approximately two years, with a 1.0 release targeted for 2028. The 1.0 build will roll up every free Early Access update plus additional content not yet detailed.7373Stability Window Confirmed (June to September 2026)7575As of the Day-0 patch announcement (May 25, 2026), the studio reaffirmed that the four months following launch are reserved exclusively for performance optimization, hotfixes, and quality of life. No new gameplay systems are scheduled for this window; the focus is on stabilizing the launch build, addressing reported bugs, and improving Live Mode behavior before the first major content drop.7777First Major Content Update (Q4 2026)7979The first major free content update is scheduled for Q4 2026. The studio has not yet named which features the Q4 update will deliver; pets, weather and seasons, and pools are the most-cited candidates among the planned post-launch additions, but the studio has explicitly described the roadmap as 'subject to change' and has avoided committing to specific update contents in advance.8181Deferred Pending Confirmation8383Exact Q4 2026 content scope (which planned feature lands first).Post-Q4 patch cadence, the studio has not committed to a monthly or quarterly rhythm.Whether Steam Deck Verified status will arrive during Early Access.Console versions, currently no plans; Xbox is described as under consideration but not committed.8585Developer Q&A Confirmations (Post-Launch)8787In the studio's first post-launch developer question-and-answer session, the team confirmed several features as planned for delivery during the Early Access window. All of the items below are planned future updates rather than mechanics present in the current build, and each will arrive as a free update for existing owners.8989Planned featureStatus as stated by the studioGardeningBasic gardening is planned for a future Early Access update. Deeper farming or ranching depends on how players respond to the initial implementation.PetsDogs, cats, and horses are confirmed as planned for Early Access. Other pet types may be considered later.Vehicles and garagesCars and garages are planned for a future Early Access update.Steam achievementsPlanned during Early Access, with no committed timeline.Steam Cloud savesPlanned for the near future once technical work is complete.Teen romanceDescribed as something the team wants to add in a future update.Together Cards expansionThe Q4 2026 update is confirmed to add more Together Cards and additional Live Mode content, though the studio is keeping the full scope secret for now.9191The team also named several systems that are not planned for the current roadmap, to set expectations during Early Access:9292Occults and supernaturals (including mermaids, vampires, and werewolves) are listed on the roadmap with an "unsure" label. They are not planned for now and would only be considered after Early Access ends.Schools and workplaces that are not rabbit-hole (offscreen) destinations are not planned for now.Political gameplay is not on the studio's list of priorities.Additional towns or cities beyond the launch town are not on the roadmap for now.A multitasking system is not planned for now, as it is technically challenging.An alternative to the Together Cards relationship system is not planned, as the system is considered core to the game's design.9494On platforms, the studio said it would like to work on console versions later, after bug fixes and gameplay improvements, with controller support as the first step. A Steam Deck pass and cloud-streaming support are both being considered later in Early Access, with cloud saves needed first for streaming.
