Stylish indie Replaced has been delayed to 2023

The developer cites the impact of the war in Ukraine

Replaced made quite an impact last year during Microsoft’s E3 press conference. Originally, developer Sad Cat Studios was aiming for a 2022 launch. But today, the studio announced Replaced has been delayed to 2023.

Sad Cat Studios is based out of Belarus, with a team of developers from Belarus and Ukraine. In today’s statement, the team cites the ongoing war in Ukraine, saying it has heavily impacted the development of Replaced, as most of the team resides in neighboring regions.

“The priority for Sad Cat was for the safety of the team and their families,” reads today’s statement. “As a result, part of the team has now relocated and work has only recently restarted on Replaced.”

Due to this, the publisher Coatsink, Thunderful, and developer all decided to move the release window to 2023. The team is continuing to work on Replaced, but says it is prioritizing the physical and mental health of its developers by not forcing the original deadline.

Enter the void

Replaced does look pretty rad, with some incredible pixel art and style to it. But the decision to take a little more time for the studios’ well-being is a good one, and a little extra time is a pittance compared to making sure the team at Sad Cat Studios is doing okay.

The war in Ukraine has had an effect on many of the game studios in the region. In response to the situation, many publishers and developers called for aid, to help those affected by the invasion. Recently, Epic and Microsoft teamed up to donate Fortnite proceeds towards various charities, ultimately raising $144 million in support.

Other companies have also responded by removing their games from sale. CD Projekt halted sales in Russia and Belarus, and Electronic Arts removed the Russian national teams from several of its sports games.