Replaced, a highly anticipated 2.5D pixel art platformer, has been delayed once again, now scheduled for release in 2025. This marks the second Xbox exclusive delay this month.
The developers at Sad Cat Studios posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, explaining the delay and apologizing for the optimistic initial release date. They mentioned the need for more time to meet their high standards and fan expectations, with a planned announcement later in the week. Players will have the opportunity to play Replaced at Gamescom, a major convention in Cologne, Germany, next week.
— REPLACED (@REPLACEDGame) August 13, 2024
The cyberpunk side-scroller Replaced garnered attention for its industry-leading pixel art and was initially revealed in 2021. Development delays pushed the release from 2022 to 2023 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and then again from 2023 to 2024 due to production bottlenecks. The studio emphasized the meticulous effort put into hand-painted animations for the main character, requiring additional time to maintain their high standards.
This is the second Xbox exclusive game delayed to next year in the past two weeks. Obsidian Entertainment’s RPG Avowed was also postponed to February 18, 2025, as Xbox aims to give players’ backlogs some breathing room.
