The game is a mix of cinematic platformer, pixel art, free-flow action combat and deep engaging dystopian story set in an alternative 1980’s. 

In and around Phoenix-City, Outlaws are rife in society. Everything is ruled by corruption and greed and the ones in power see humans and their organs as nothing more than just currency.

A Dark Alternative to the '80s We Know and Love

Most of us think of the '80s as a time of questionable hairstyles, boom boxes, glam rock and the birth of iconic games like Pac-Man and Tetris; a simpler time (albeit with more glitter). But what would the '80s have looked like in a past where the Trinity nuclear test in the '40s went wrong, causing a bomb to explode and resulting in national devastation? In Replaced, you get a glimpse into that world, where "Sweet Dreams" are for the sleeping and you "Stopped Believin'" a long time ago.

Bioengineering is Just the Beginning

Replaced is set almost 40 years after the nuclear explosion, in a walled fortress known as Phoenix-City ruled by the corrupt Phoenix Corp, a company founded on "matching" voluntary donors with greedy clients looking to upgrade their body parts. As time went on, they found that voluntary supply was falling behind demand and soon the richest clients could get their hands on anything while citizens started to go missing at an alarming rate. Vocal cords, legs, eyes, livers? No problem for the wealthy.

Originally planned for 2022, then delayed until 2023 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, pushed until 2024, moved into 2025, a release date of March 12th, it is now being pushed another month.

Sad Cat Studios and Thunderful are announcing a short delay to Replaced, which will now be releasing on PC and Xbox Series X|S on April 14, 2026.

The delay will give Sad Cat Studios a few more weeks to add a final layer of polish and deliver a game true to the studio's vision.

Statement from Sad Cat Studios

We have an important update to share regarding the launch of REPLACED. After a lot of back and forth, we have decided to shift our release date to 14 April 2026.

As a small team working on our very first title, we’ve poured everything we have into this project. 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.

The response to our Steam demo has been the ultimate fuel for us. To be honest, putting it out there was nerve-wracking, but 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.

Your patience and support over the years have meant the world to us. Many of you have followed us on this journey every step of the way, and seeing your passion is what makes these final days and nights of development worth it. 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. And if you’d like a first glimpse of REPLACED before the big day, the demo is still live on Steam. 

Thank you for your understanding, your kindness, and for being such a vital part of this journey. We’ll see you on 14 April 2026.

- The Sad Cat Studios Team

By the time people realized what was happening it was too late, Phoenix Corp was running the whole country, throwing the leftover and unwilling donors into the "disposal" areas outside the city walls to live as outlaws (the ones that survived that is). In the early days, the corporation started looking into AI and how this could help run their system more efficiently — and that's how the first prototypes for R.E.A.C.H, the main AI, were created.

Replaced is inspired by cyberpunk stylized films like Blade Runner 2049, Alien, and Upgrade. The pixel art style complements the '80s aesthetic while the free-flow action-inspired combat creates an exciting and immersive gaming experience with some unexpected twists in the storyline to keep players hooked.

Replaced is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam/Epic Games Store) on April 14, 2026, while also being available through Xbox/PC Game Pass.