Revision 5

This page collects answers to the most frequently asked questions about Paralives, drawn from the official developer FAQ, the May 7, 2026

Quick Reference

General

What is Paralives?

Paralives is an indie life-simulation game developed by Paralives Studio. Players create and customize characters called Parafolk, build and decorate homes using a freeform Build Mode, and guide their characters through daily life in an open-world town. The launch build features deep personality systems, the Expertise System for non-linear career progression, and a label-based relationship system.

Who is making Paralives?

Paralives is developed by Paralives Studio, founded in 2019 by Alex Massé. Alex began the project in September 2018 as a solo developer and started publicly sharing progress in June 2019. The team has since grown to approximately 17 people working remotely or from Montreal. See

Pricing and Purchase

How much does Paralives cost?

Paralives is priced at $39.99 USD for the Early Access launch on May 25, 2026. The price will gradually increase as more content is added during the Early Access period, reaching a higher price at the 1.0 full release. Players who purchase the game earlier will pay less and still receive all future updates for free.

Will there be paid DLC?

No. The studio has committed to never selling paid DLC. All post-launch content, including pets, vehicles, weather, seasons, gardening, and other major systems, will arrive as free updates during the approximately two-year Early Access period and beyond. See

Is there a demo?

No public demo has been announced as of the launch. The launch build is the first time the general public can purchase and play the game. Closed playtests during 2025 and early 2026 informed the launch readiness, but those tests were invite-only.

Platforms and Requirements

What platforms is Paralives available on?

Paralives is available on PC (Windows 10 / 11) and macOS (Apple Silicon, M-series) via Steam. There are no plans for consoles, mobile devices, or other PC storefronts at launch. The studio has noted that Xbox is still under consideration for the future, but no firm commitment has been made.

Will Paralives come to Linux?

There are no current plans for a native Linux build. Players on Linux may be able to run the game through compatibility layers such as Proton, though that path is not officially supported. The studio has not ruled out a later Linux release.

Will Paralives support controllers or Steam Deck?

Controller support and Steam Deck verification have not been confirmed for launch. The primary input method is keyboard and mouse. All keys are rebindable for accessibility; see

What languages will be supported?

Paralives supports 8 languages at the Early Access launch: English, French, Italian, German, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), and Simplified Chinese. All eight have full interface and subtitle support. Spoken dialogue uses the fictional Parli language, which is not tied to any real-world language. See

What are the system requirements?

Windows minimum: Windows 10, Intel i5 / Ryzen 5 @ 2.5 GHz, 12 GB RAM, GTX 1060 or RX 6600 XT, DirectX 11, 8 GB storage. macOS minimum: Apple M2, macOS Big Sur 11 or newer, 12 GB RAM. Recommended tiers raise CPU clock to 3.0 GHz, RAM to 16 GB, GPU to RTX 2060 / RX 7600 XT, and macOS chip to Apple M3. See

Gameplay

Is Paralives multiplayer?

No. Paralives is a single-player game. It does not require an internet connection to play (though an internet connection is needed for Steam Workshop access, automatic mod installation, and game updates). There are no plans for multiplayer or co-op modes.

How does building work?

Paralives has a grid-free Build Mode that allows walls placed at any angle, curved walls, split-level floors, free object resizing through corner anchors, full color and texture customization via a color wheel, and multi-floor construction. An optional grid can be enabled for placement assistance, but the underlying system is freeform. See

How do relationships work?

The launch build's relationship system uses a label-based approach. Each connection between two Parafolk is defined by multiple labels (Friend, Coworker, Romantic Partner, and so on) that can be unlocked and upgraded through play. Socializing fills the Together Bar, and when it is full, players choose from

Can Parafolk have multiple jobs?

Yes. A Parafolk can hold multiple jobs simultaneously as long as the schedules do not conflict. Each job has its own working hours, salary, and rank. Career progression is non-linear: characters improve within their role rather than being automatically promoted to a different position. See

Can Paras chat online or call each other on the phone?

Not at launch. Calling Paras over the phone and chatting online are confirmed post-launch free updates rather than Day 1 features. They are part of the

Release and Early Access

When does Paralives launch?

The Early Access launch is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026. The game was originally announced for December 8, 2025 but was delayed in November 2025 after expanded playtest feedback revealed Live Mode bugs, a lack of town activities, and a need for first-time-user-experience polish.

How long will Early Access last?

Approximately two years before the 1.0 full release. This estimate is subject to change based on development progress and community feedback during Early Access. The 1.0 release is targeted for sometime in 2028.

What features are in Early Access on Day 1?

The Day 1 launch includes the three core gameplay pillars (Paramaker, Build Mode, Live Mode) plus the launch venues, scheduled events, careers system, Expertise System, cooking, bills, pregnancy and birth, all five lifestages, modding tools and Steam Workshop, the Photo Mode, and the 2025 to 2026 animation expansion. See

What features come after launch?

Confirmed post-launch free updates during Early Access include pets (dogs, cats, horses), vehicles (cars, bikes), boats and houseboats, swimming and pools, weather and seasons, calendar, family tree UI, gardening, fishing, story progression for NPCs, organized social events, town editing tools, advanced roof and stair tools, basements, curved doors and windows, and phone calling / online chatting. All arrive free under the no-paid-DLC commitment.

What is the content rating?

Paralives targets a Teen content rating. The game excludes mature themes such as drugs, murder, sexual violence, pornography, and gore. The focus is on wholesome life-simulation experiences accessible to a broad audience.

Modding

Are mods supported on Day 1?

Yes. The official Paralives Modding Toolkit and Steam Workshop integration both ship on Day 1. Mods can add, edit, or remove most game content through the official toolkit. See

Are script mods supported?

Not at launch. The official toolkit covers content and parameter mods but does not support scripting to create new gameplay logic. Script mods remain under consideration for a later date but no commitment has been made.

Community

Will the Paratreon continue after launch?

Paratreon pledges sunset on launch day, May 25, 2026. After that date, the Paratreon channel remains open for community communication and feedback but no longer processes new pledges. Funding shifts to Steam sales revenue under the no-paid-DLC commitment. See

How can players give feedback during Early Access?

The studio collects feedback through official community channels including the Paratreon channel, Steam community hubs, and direct surveys. The Early Access period is designed around iterative feedback-driven updates; player input is expected to shape both the order of post-launch features and many smaller balance and design decisions throughout the approximately two-year Early Access window.

Out of Scope

Specific patch cadence (weekly, monthly, per major feature) has not been published. The studio has signaled that updates will arrive when features are ready rather than on a fixed calendar. Other open questions remain in play during Early Access; this FAQ reflects the publicly confirmed launch facts as of May 12, 2026.