Replaced, the already hugely exciting 2.5D pixel art cyberpunk platformer, has now been officially announced and has been slated for a Spring 2026 release. The developer, Sad Cat Studios, along with the game’s director, Yura Zhdanovich, have promised that it is coming to PC and Xbox Series X|S after suffering multiple delays on its journey to release following years of development struggles.
When Replaced was unveiled in 2021, it swiftly became one of the most anticipated indies announced for Xbox. The game was initially anticipated for 2022 before it was delayed again. Zhdanovich admitted that FedEx and its team never planned to spend five years developing Replaced, but some challenges beyond the studio’s control stalled its progress.
The key issue that influenced Replaced development was the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which affected the Belarus team directly. The added hurdles of making a game just meant that the studio had to push back Replaced several times. However, Sad Cat Studios reiterated that the wait will be worth it.
In a new gameplay demo narrated by Zhdanovich, developer Coatsink cut between the various stages of Replaced’s development, from its prototype to its almost-finished build. He explained:
“We know our community is truly looking forward to playing Replaced and it’s no secret that we’re taking longer than we initially thought. We have been always trying to do the right things for the project, and that means bringing a truly special experience. Good news is now that we’re really damn close to done with production, we can confidently announce that Replaced is coming to PC and next-gen Xbox on Spring 2026.
Fans of retro-futuristic and cyberpunk themes will also love the visual presentation of Replaced, where a 2.5D pixel art style meets fluid, a game that has found balance between fluid and pixel art animation and atmospheric storytelling. The game will offer a movie-quality platformer set in a 1980s play-world.
Though there’s no specific release date for Replaced at this time, Sad Cat Studios did announce that the full trailer will be released this year. That trailer will also officially set Replaced’s release as well ahead of its own release window in Spring 2026.
With Replaced in the final stages of production, interest is high among the gaming community. After years of waiting, PC and Xbox Series X|S players are soon to be able to sink their teeth into the dystopian cyberpunk world of Replaced.
FAQ
Replaced is due out in Spring 2026 on PC and Xbox Series X|S.
Replaced is in development from Sad Cat Studios, with game director Yura Zhdanovich at the helm.
Replaced was delayed across a combination of game development’s hard knocks and specifically the Russia-Ukraine war on the Belarus team.
Replaced has so far only been announced for PC and Xbox Series X|S.
