Sifu Devs Ditch Kung Fu for Kickabouts: Genius Move or Utter Madness?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Sloclap, the studio behind *Sifu*, is moving on to an online multiplayer football game called *Rematch*, which has understandably caused some confusion and disappointment, but the studio defends their decision by wanting creative freedom and to move on. *Rematch* already has crossplay on the horizon for the future!
Right, so Sloclap, the studio that had us all perfecting our Pak Mei in *Sifu*, has dropped a bit of a bombshell: they're moving on to… football? Specifically, *Rematch*, an online multiplayer footy game. Now, before you chuck your controller through the telly, let’s have a proper look at what's going on.
According to Game Rant, the news has understandably ruffled some feathers. Creative director Pierre Tarno even apologized for the way *Rematch* was revealed, admitting the "cold open" – starting with “from the team behind *Sifu*” – led many to believe a sequel was imminent. Fair play to him for owning up to that communication fumble.
But here's the thing: *Sifu*, as brilliant as it was, was never meant to be Sloclap's forever game. They gave it a good run with updates and an expansion, and reckon they've squeezed as much juice out of that particular orange as they could. Can't really fault them for that, can you? Sticking to one genre just because that's what everyone expects? Sounds like creative death to me. It's like expecting a wizard to only cast one type of spell – where's the fun in that?
Tarno makes a fair point when he says that *Absolver*, *Sifu*, and *Rematch* all share some DNA: they're third-person, grounded action titles. It's all about Sloclap's particular design approach, apparently. Think of it as their signature spell, just applied to different ingredients.
And, crucially, Sloclap seems properly committed to *Rematch*. They've already dropped a roadmap with plans for crossplay (a big one, that!), player reporting, ranked queues, and general quality-of-life improvements. Sounds like they're in it for the long haul.
So, are they bonkers for moving on from *Sifu*? Maybe. But maybe they're onto something. The gaming landscape is littered with sequels that fail to recapture the magic of the original. Perhaps Sloclap's onto the idea that staying creatively fresh is more important than just churning out what's expected. And, let’s be honest, a million players joining *Rematch* within 24 hours ain't a bad start. Just sayin’.
Tags: Sifu, Rematch, Sloclap, Indie Games, Game Development
Original article: Game Rant