After launching its free demo last week on Steam, Sad Cat Studios’ cyberpunk side-scrolling action title Replaced has been delayed again. Previously intended for March 12th, it’s now launching on April 14th.
“As a small team working on our very first title, we’ve poured everything we have into this project,” wrote Sad Cat Studios on Steam. “While the game is technically finished, reaching this final stretch has shown us that we need just a few more weeks to ensure the experience is exactly what you deserve. We want the version of Replaced you play on day one to be polished, stable, and true to the vision we’ve shared with you.”
It also addressed the reaction to its Steam demo, and while “nerve-wracking” to release, “Seeing your gameplay, reading your reviews, and hearing your excitement has been overwhelming in the best way possible. We are constantly reading your comments, and that feedback is helping us make the final tweaks that will make the full game shine.”
“We are super close to the finish line, and we can’t wait for you to experience the final results of years of hard work.”
Looking back on its initial announcement from E3 2021, Replaced has definitely come a long way. The graphical style has evolved into something truly stunning, but it’s also worth noting the real-world issues that Sad Cat Studios faced during development. Based in Ukraine, it saw numerous setbacks due to Russia’s invasion in 2022. Of course, the team has also insisted time and again that it doesn’t want to “release a sub-par game.”
The current demo offers a very small slice of the game, introducing players to R.E.A.C.H., an AI developed by Phoenix Corporation, suddenly trapped in a human body. Escaping confinement to Phoenix-City, players take on hostile bandits while coming to terms with this alternate 1980s America.
Its exploration and platforming are pretty straightforward, and you can also get a feel of the Free Flow combat, inspired by the likes of Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham series. Of course, there’s a lot more to look forward to, including free roam and taking on requests from other NPCs.
Replaced will be available for Xbox Series X/S and PC on release alongside Game Pass. Stay tuned for more updates leading up to its new release date.
