Overview
Paralives is developed in the Unity engine and is available on Steam for both Windows PC and macOS. The official system requirements were announced by Paralives Studio in November 2025, ahead of the game's Early Access launch. These specifications represent the requirements for the Early Access build and may change as the game is optimized and expanded throughout development.
Windows System Requirements
Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
OS | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
Processor | Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 @ 2.5 GHz | Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 @ 3.0 GHz |
Memory | 12 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 6600 XT | NVIDIA RTX 2060 or AMD RX 7600 XT |
DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
Storage | 8 GB available space | 8 GB available space |
macOS System Requirements
Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
OS | macOS Big Sur 11 or newer | macOS Big Sur 11 or newer |
Processor | Apple M2 | Apple M3 |
Memory | 12 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
Graphics | Apple M2 integrated GPU | Apple M3 integrated GPU |
Storage | 8 GB available space | 8 GB available space |
The macOS version requires Apple Silicon (M-series chips). Intel-based Macs are not supported. This reflects the game's reliance on the performance and graphics capabilities of Apple's ARM-based processors.
Key Hardware Considerations
RAM
The 12 GB minimum RAM requirement is notable for a life simulation game and reflects the complexity of Paralives' systems. The game needs to handle grid-free building, procedural animation, open-world-style town exploration with minimal loading screens, and multiple active Parafolk simultaneously. Players who plan to use community mods or build elaborate homes with many objects should aim for the recommended 16 GB.
Graphics Card
The minimum GPU requirement of a GTX 1060 or RX 6600 XT places Paralives in the midrange category. These cards are capable of handling the game's 3D rendering, lighting, and animation systems at acceptable framerates. The recommended tier (RTX 2060 or RX 7600 XT) provides additional headroom for higher graphical settings and smoother performance, particularly in densely furnished homes or busy town areas.
Storage
The 8 GB storage requirement is relatively modest and reflects the Early Access build's current content volume. This figure is expected to grow as Paralives Studio adds new content, venues, furniture, and features throughout the Early Access period. Players should plan for additional space, especially if they intend to install community mods through Steam Workshop.
Processor
A quad-core processor at 2.5 GHz is the minimum, with 3.0 GHz recommended. The game's simulation systems (including the autonomy system, needs calculations, pathfinding, and procedural animation) benefit from higher clock speeds, particularly when running the simulation at faster speeds (2x or 3x) in Live Mode.
Platform Availability
Paralives is available exclusively through Steam for both Windows and macOS at launch. The game is currently not announced for consoles or other PC storefronts. The developers have focused on delivering a polished PC and Mac experience first, with potential platform expansion to be considered after the Early Access period.
Performance Tips
Close other memory-intensive applications when playing to ensure the full 12-16 GB of RAM is available
Install the game on an SSD for faster loading when entering buildings and transitioning between areas
Keep graphics drivers up to date, as Unity engine games benefit from driver optimizations
Monitor performance when building very large or densely furnished homes, as these can be more demanding than typical gameplay
The game's Early Access build may receive performance optimizations in future updates
Steam Features
Paralives integrates with several Steam platform features:
Steam Workshop: Browse, download, and share community-created mods and custom content directly through the Steam client.
Steam Cloud: Save files are synced across devices via Steam Cloud, so players can continue their game on a different computer.
Steam Achievements: The game includes Steam Achievements for completing in-game milestones and challenges.
Supported Languages
Paralives supports 29 languages at launch. All in-game text will be displayed in the player's chosen language. Spoken dialogue uses the fictional Parli language, which is not language-specific.
Language Group | Languages |
|---|---|
East Asian | Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese |
Western European | English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Latin America), Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil) |
Northern European | Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish |
Eastern European | Bulgarian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian |
Other | Greek, Turkish |
Content Rating
Paralives is targeting a Teen content rating. The game excludes mature themes such as drugs, murder, sexual violence, pornography, and gore. This rating aligns with the game's focus on wholesome life simulation.
Console Considerations
Paralives is currently available exclusively on PC and Mac via Steam. There are no confirmed plans for console versions at this time. However, Alex Masse has stated that he is "still taking Xbox into consideration" for the future. The development team's priority is delivering a polished PC and Mac experience first, with potential platform expansion to be evaluated after the Early Access period.
Early Access Considerations
Since Paralives is in Early Access, performance may vary as the game is actively being developed. The system requirements listed above represent the initial specifications and may be adjusted. Players on hardware near the minimum requirements should expect that future content additions could increase the game's demands. The development team has indicated that optimization is an ongoing priority throughout the Early Access period.