REPLACED, the highly anticipated 2.5D cinematic action platformer developed by Sad Cat Studios and published by Thunderful Publishing, has finally received an official release date of March 12, 2026, for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Microsoft Store, as well as Xbox Series X|S, with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass. This announcement, made just days ago on December 4, 2025, comes after years of delays since the game’s reveal at E3 2021, where it was initially slated for a 2022 launch, positioning it as one of the most intriguing prospective Xbox exclusives at the time. At launch, it will be an Xbox console exclusive, with no PlayStation or Nintendo versions confirmed yet, though the small team has expressed focus on PC and Xbox platforms first.
Set in a dystopian, alternate 1980s America reshaped by a nuclear catastrophe following World War II, REPLACED immerses players in the neon-drenched streets of Phoenix-City, a corrupt stronghold controlled by the sinister Phoenix Corporation where human life is commodified and the poor have their organs harvested for the elite. Players control R.E.A.C.H., an artificial intelligence forcibly trapped in a human body against its will, on a mission to uncover the Corporation’s hidden agenda and the true purpose of its own creation, exploring themes of humanity, identity, control, and moral ambiguity through interactions with complex characters. The narrative-driven experience blends intense cyberpunk thriller storytelling with hand-crafted pixel art visuals enhanced by modern effects, evoking a retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by films like Upgrade and Blade Runner 2049, alongside a moody synth-driven soundtrack featuring an original track titled “Dusk” showcased in the recent release date trailer.
Gameplay emphasizes fluid, free-flow action in a 2.5D perspective, allowing seamless movement between foreground and background layers for environmental puzzles, precise platforming challenges reminiscent of classics like Flashback, Another World, Inside, and Prince of Persia, and high-intensity combat that chains precise melee strikes into ranged attacks, incorporating dodge and parry mechanics for special moves. An explorable hub area in Phoenix-City features side quests, NPC interactions, and world-building dialogue, while run, climb, and fight traversal mechanics guide players through crumbling districts, industrial wastelands, and neon-lit alleys, all wrapped in cinematic exploration and cutscenes containing violence, gore, strong language, and mature themes like alcohol, tobacco use, and crude humor.
Sad Cat Studios, making their debut with this ambitious project started in 2018 by founders transitioning from mobile games, drew inspiration from cinematic platformers and evolved the combat system akin to Batman: Arkham amid budget constraints, prioritizing realistic animations and a unique American-flavored cyberpunk setting over typical Asian tropes. Development faced significant hurdles, including multiple delays exacerbated by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which forced the Belarus-based team (originally from Minsk) to relocate to Cyprus, pushing back what was expected to be a 2021-2023 release to spring 2026. Game Director Yura Zhdanovich reflected on the journey in the announcement: “It feels great to finally have a set date for the release of REPLACED. It’s no secret that it’s taken longer for us to get here than we initially thought and we want to thank everyone for your continued patience and support. We’re looking forward to making it worth your while on March 12!” The game supports full controller compatibility, including Xbox controllers, and will launch as a single-player title with multilingual support in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and more for interface and subtitles. System requirements remain TBD, and players can wishlist it now on Steam ahead of its arrival.
