PARADISE, a free-to-play game being developed by China’s Ultra Games Limited, is a realistic life simulator in an open-world genre. PARADISE is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2025 and has already made it into the top 100 most anticipated games on Steam and the number one spot among free-to-play games.
Key Features of the Game:
PARADISE combines elements from popular series such as GTA and SIMS, offering players a similar range of possibilities including managing vehicles, shootouts, purchasing goods, clothes, and real estate, as well as developing relationships between characters. Recently, Korean developers known for PUBG released a similar game called INZOI.
In my opinion, the main advantage of this game is that it could be a pioneer in the field of implementing artificial intelligence for non-player characters (AI NPCs) for a global audience. Developers often showcase the interaction with AI NPCs during online streams, and this is the first instance where the interaction looks so realistic and can engage players for a very long time.
It resembles a full-fledged sandbox and real-world simulation, where an economy exists and it’s possible to buy or earn anything by participating in various in-game activities.
Allusion to the Modern World and Irony over Real Brands:
Developers have presented a series of game videos, showing elements that merge American and Chinese cultures: metropolises with towering skyscrapers and scenic beach areas outlined by the ocean.
Analysis of Available Trailers and Video Materials:
The action takes place on an island mimicking American cities like Los Angeles or Miami, but with elements of Chinese architecture.
Locations include beaches similar to those in GTA 5 and GTA 6, where there are opportunities to ride jet skis or yachts. A recent scandal involving the use of umbrella designs, which sparked associations with the upcoming GTA 6 trailer, confirms the Chinese developers’ intention to attract the vast GTA fanbase.
City districts are packed with various elements of urban life, from car traffic jams, litter, and homeless on the streets to hot dog vendors, police officers, street workers, pedestrians, cyclists, street musicians, sidewalk cafes, random incidents, and advertising billboards, as demonstrated in an AMA session with the developers.
Stores and restaurants are parodies of famous American brands: instead of Walmart, there’s Parmart; instead of Subway, Dubway; and instead of Twix, Jinx, adding humor and realism.
Another cool feature of the game is the dynamic weather, including realistically modeled ocean storms.
AI NPCs:
The Chinese game Paradise has entered the market with the promise to revolutionize interactive engagement through the use of artificial intelligence. Developers claim that NPCs in the game can communicate with players via text (supporting 10+ languages) or voice, responding not just with pre-programmed phrases but with realistic improvisation, which brings the gameplay closer to real communication.
Despite these ambitious claims, the market remains cautiously optimistic. As news of Paradise spreads, many players and analysts wonder whether the Chinese version of GTA can offer enough unique features to attract players, or if it will be perceived as just another clone?
Very recently, the world saw the Chinese analog of ChatGPT — DeepSeek, which simply exploded the AI technology world and managed to outpace the American giant. While DeepSeek demonstrates AI capabilities in data analysis, Paradise attempts to apply similar technologies in an interactive environment.
Either way, the rivalry between Chinese and American developments promises to be an exciting event in the world of technology and video games. The gaming community eagerly awaits the chance to assess how realistic the new AI is and what the long-term implications of its implementation in the gaming industry will be.
AI NPCs in PARADISE
- Voice Interaction: NPCs can answer questions, respond to commands, and even engage in conversations in over 10 languages.
- Memory Recognition: If you help someone, they might thank you later. If you offend them, the NPC will remember it.
- Living their own lives: Every character has a job, a home, friends, and a daily routine. The game includes various categories of people: from homeless and arms dealers to businessmen and politicians.
- Interaction Among Themselves: NPCs can befriend, argue, build careers, or even change professions without player intervention. Unlike in other games where NPCs often look like robots repeating phrases, in PARADISE they truly resemble real people.
Game Popularity and Community
PARADISE XRPL has already attracted significant attention from players and gaming bloggers. The project ranks high in the popularity ratings on major platforms, and its trailers have garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
To date, the game has achieved impressive results:
- It’s among the top 3 most popular free games on Steam and in the top 100 most anticipated games of all time.
- Its trailers have received over 1.5 million views on YouTube.
- It’s supported by well-known American streamers and bloggers, such as Caylus, Sikhwarrior, FlowGamesTV.
The game is actively discussed on social media, Discord, and gaming forums. Gamers debate the gameplay capabilities, compare PARADISE with other popular simulators, and speculate about how the project will evolve. The buzz around the game confirms that the gaming community is anticipating something truly new and exciting. The developers regularly publish fresh news, share gameplay videos, and maintain active communication with fans.
Release Date and Developer Plans
Developers Ultra Games and Ultra Technologies are preparing for a phased launch:
- Q4 2024 – Launch on Steam and Epic Games, marketing campaign.
- Q2 2025 – Free early access for players.
- Q3-Q4 2025 – Adding new features, patches, post-release support.
How to Play PARADISE?
On the official website Paradise Official Website paradisevs.com, you can obtain early access to the game. Simply click the corresponding button and subscribe to the project's social media. In response to your subscription, you will be sent an electronic code that can be used in the Epic Games Store in the future to test the game. Alternatively, you can add the game to your wishlist on gaming marketplaces:
- STEAM
- Epic Games Store
