Sloclap Explains Decision to Move on From Sifu to Work on Rematch

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As a die-hard fan, I’ve been following Sloclap’s moves closely, and I must say, I was taken aback when they announced their shift from Sifu to develop Rematch. For many of us who were eagerly anticipating more from Sifu, this sudden change came as quite a surprise. However, creative director Pierre Tarno has since apologized for the way the Rematch announcement was handled, expressing regret that it may have disappointed fans. Yet, he remains firm in his conviction that this new direction is what’s best for the studio at this juncture.

The creators of “Sifu”, an independent game studio, have built a robust reputation through their critically acclaimed 2022 kung fu action title, which was appreciated for its intense combat, compelling storyline, and challenging gameplay. Instead of unveiling a sequel to “Sifu” or anything similar at The Game Awards 2024, the studio opted for a surprise – introducing “Rematch”, an online multiplayer football game. Debuting on June 19, “Rematch” quickly garnered attention, with over a million players joining within just 24 hours, giving the studio a promising kick-off in their new venture.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but share my feelings about a recent turn of events. Not too long ago, during an interview with GamesRadar+, Pierre Tarno admitted that some of us, who were eagerly anticipating Sifu 2, felt a tinge of disappointment when Rematch was announced instead. It seems many of us were taken aback by the “cold open” of the Rematch trailer, which started with “from the team behind Sifu.” This led us to believe that a sequel was on its way.

However, Tarno clarified that this was indeed a communication lapse on their part. He emphasized that the studio should have been more straightforward with the Sifu community before making such an announcement, to spare us from this reaction. In simpler terms, they should have made it clearer that Rematch wasn’t a sequel but another game from the same team.

Sloclap Says for the Moment It was Better to Let Sifu Rest

Sloclap’s founder, Tarno, explained that Sifu was not meant to be a perpetual game for the studio. They provided updates, additional content, and even a full expansion for it, but eventually felt they had exhausted its potential. Although he didn’t rule out returning to it in the future, he believes it’s best to “take a break” from it at this time. Tarno also discussed a broader issue in gaming: the pressure on studios to stay within one genre. However, Sloclap is more interested in exploring creative projects that excite them. In Tarno’s opinion, Absolver, Sifu, and Rematch all have similarities – they are all third-person, grounded action titles, reflecting the studio’s design philosophy.

It’s worth noting that the developers appear to be deeply invested in assisting Rematch at present. Besides routine updates, they have unveiled a schedule detailing significant features and upgrades slated for the upcoming months. These encompass crossplay functionality, player reporting tools, new ranked modes, and numerous user-friendly enhancements. The developers have emphasized that integrating crossplay is high on their list of development priorities.

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2025-07-20 19:03