Publisher Thunderful Games and developer Sad Cat Studios announced that the science fiction retro-style action platform game "Replaced" has once again delayed its votes, changing from 2025 to spring 2026, and it will be launched on PC (Steam, Epic), Xbox Series platform, and the Xbox One version seems to have been cut.
"Replaced" was first announced on E3 2021, but development began as early as 2018. During this period, it has experienced many delays and has been in development for 7 years.
Cologne Exhibition 12 minutes trial:
00:00 Fight
01:53 Escape
05:12 Hospital
09:13 Boss Battle
First impression of trial:
Replaced is a game that shows amazing cinematic performance and stylish cyberpunk aesthetics.Its 2.5D perspective combines exquisite pixel art with a profound dystopian world.The developers told us that the gameplay is inspired by three modern classic works.For example, the free and smooth combat system reminds people of the strong rhythmic and counterattack-centered combat method in the series "Batman: Arkham", giving players a sense of power and control when facing enemies.At the same time, the movie-based platform jumping clips in the game almost directly draw on the seamless and dramatic scene travel of the Uncharted Sea series, which is both exciting and visually impactful.The overall atmosphere—from dark, rain-washed streets to moments full of contemplation and sentimentality—also reminiscent of the desolate beauty and emotional thickness of The Last Survivor.
What is particularly impressive is that Sad Cat Studios actually achieved this unique visual effect with the Unity engine.The team created a custom toolkit from scratch to cope with the dynamic lighting and stunning visual style of the game.This "tailored" development method demonstrates the studio's persistent pursuit of artistic vision and explains why "Replaced" stands out in pixel-style games.The final presentation is a work that is solid and reliable in gameplay and narrative, and at the same time achieves breakthroughs in technology and art, which truly broadens the possibility of a 2.5D perspective game.
About this game:
"Replaced" is a 2.5D science fiction retro futuristic action platform game, set in another 1980s America, with a profound dystopian story as the main line and adopts a free-flowing fighting mode.
The player plays a role as an artificial intelligence R.E.A.C.H. who is trapped in a human body and goes against his will, striving to adapt to human life inside and outside Phoenix City.
After a catastrophic nuclear incident, the social atmosphere is getting worse and the lawless are rampant.Corruption and greed rule everything, and those in power see humanity and their organs as mere currency.REPLACED focuses on single-player gaming experience, combining movie platform style, pixel art and free-flowing fighting mode.
Set in a complex and realistic, non-realistic world of digital punks, the plot tells a dystopian story that takes place in another past, with a fascinating plot.
R.E.A.C.H. will gradually understand that everything comes at a price and explore and unveil the mystery of this world in the process.
