The stunning Unreal Engine 5 remake of Sword and Fairy 4 went viral this week after its debut trailer drew comparisons to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. But Xbox players hoping to experience this Chinese RPG remake might have to wait longer than expected. Publisher Cube Game revealed on December 30, 2025, that despite joining Microsoft’s ID@Xbox program earlier in the year, developer Up Software still hasn’t received the necessary development kits to bring the game to Xbox consoles.
The Dev Kit Dilemma
In a social media post addressing fan questions about platform availability, Cube Game confirmed the frustrating situation. The team joined ID@Xbox, Microsoft’s independent developer program, months ago with every intention of releasing on Xbox Series X and S. However, the actual hardware needed to develop and optimize the game for Microsoft’s consoles has yet to arrive, creating an unexpected bottleneck in the porting process.
This isn’t a case of the developer refusing to bring the game to Xbox or prioritizing other platforms. It’s a logistical issue that’s unfortunately outside their control. Without dev kits, the team physically cannot build, test, or optimize an Xbox version, no matter how much they want to. The game was announced for PC and consoles when the trailer dropped, but the console specifics remain unclear until this hardware situation gets resolved.
What Is Sword and Fairy 4 Remake?
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Legend of Sword and Fairy 4 originally launched in 2007 as a PC-exclusive action RPG from Taiwanese developer Softstar Entertainment. Despite being called the fourth game, it’s actually the fifth mainline entry in the franchise and serves as a prequel to the third game. The series has been a massive hit in Chinese-speaking markets for decades but struggled to gain traction in Western countries due to localization barriers and platform availability.
The remake, developed by Chinese studio Up Software and published by Cube Game, completely reimagines the 18-year-old game in Unreal Engine 5. It transforms the original action RPG into a turn-based single-player experience that follows Tianhe Yun’s team as they journey to find the immortals while uncovering a long-sealed truth. The updated combat system features real-time elements, dynamic camera work, and stylish animations that clearly draw inspiration from modern JRPGs.
The Clair Obscur Comparison
The debut trailer for Sword and Fairy 4 Remake sparked immediate comparisons to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the French-developed turn-based RPG that swept The Game Awards 2025 with nine wins including Game of the Year. The visual similarities are undeniable. Both games feature stylish turn-based combat with active timing elements, dramatic camera angles during attacks, Unreal Engine 5’s photorealistic graphics, and a similar aesthetic blending fantasy and semi-realistic character designs.
Some fans accused Up Software of copying Sandfall Interactive’s game, with comments ranging from “totally not copy and paste combat” to joking questions like “Is this DLC of Expedition 33?” One commenter sarcastically declared “We got Expedition-like genre now,” suggesting Clair Obscur might have created an entirely new sub-genre of stylish turn-based RPGs that other developers are now rushing to emulate.
However, defenders of Sword and Fairy 4 Remake pointed out that the game is simply following modern turn-based RPG conventions established by titles like Persona 5, Like a Dragon, and others. The original Sword and Fairy series has its own legacy dating back to 1995, predating many Western RPG franchises. The remake isn’t copying Clair Obscur so much as both games are drawing from similar influences and utilizing the same cutting-edge technology available to developers in 2025.
Why The Dev Kit Delay Matters
The lack of Xbox development kits creates several problems beyond just delaying the port. First, it puts the game at risk of missing a simultaneous multi-platform launch, which can hurt sales and community momentum. When games release on PlayStation and PC first with Xbox versions arriving months later, it fragments the player base and reduces the impact of marketing campaigns.
Second, delayed dev kits mean the team can’t optimize the game specifically for Xbox hardware during the main development cycle. Instead, they’ll need to port it after the fact, which often results in performance issues or compromises compared to versions developed with proper hardware access from the beginning. This is particularly concerning given that Unreal Engine 5 games can be demanding, and proper optimization requires extensive testing on target hardware.
Third, the situation creates uncertainty for Xbox fans who want to support the game but don’t know when or if they’ll actually be able to play it. Some might give up waiting and buy it on a different platform, while others might skip it entirely rather than dealing with the frustration of an indefinite delay.
ID@Xbox Usually Runs Smoothly
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Program | ID@Xbox (Independent Developers @ Xbox) |
| Purpose | Support indie developers bringing games to Xbox |
| Benefits | Free dev kits, technical support, marketing assistance |
| 2025 Success | Hundreds of indie games released successfully |
| Sword Fairy 4 Status | Joined program, awaiting dev kit delivery |
It’s worth noting that the ID@Xbox program generally functions extremely well. Microsoft has shipped hundreds of incredible indie titles through the program in 2025 alone, with most developers praising the support they receive. The program provides free development hardware, technical assistance, and marketing opportunities that help small studios compete in an increasingly expensive industry.
So what went wrong here? It’s unclear whether this is a supply chain issue, an administrative mix-up, or something else entirely. One or two games inevitably run into hurdles when you’re dealing with the sheer volume that ID@Xbox processes annually. Sword and Fairy 4 Remake appears to have drawn the short straw, but there’s no indication this reflects broader problems with the program or Microsoft’s commitment to indie developers.
The Franchise’s Western Expansion
This remake represents a significant opportunity for the Sword and Fairy franchise to finally break through in Western markets. The most recent mainline entry, The Legend of Sword and Fairy 7, launched in China in 2021 before receiving an English localization as Sword and Fairy: Together Forever for PlayStation and Xbox consoles in 2022. That game featured real-time combat, party-based mechanics, and over 30 hours of mythology-based storytelling.
Reviews for Together Forever were generally positive, with critics praising its lore-rich story, character designs, and familiar but fun combat. However, the lack of English voice acting and some design quirks limited its appeal to Western audiences already familiar with the JRPG genre. The Sword and Fairy 4 Remake could succeed where previous entries struggled by offering the polished presentation and modern design sensibilities that appeal to contemporary RPG fans.
Timeline Uncertainty
Without a release date announced yet, there’s still theoretical time for Cube Game and Up Software to resolve the dev kit situation before launch. If the hardware arrives soon and development proceeds smoothly, the Xbox version could still release simultaneously with PC and other console platforms. However, the longer this drags on, the more likely we’re looking at a staggered release with Xbox trailing behind.
The optimistic scenario has Microsoft rushing replacement dev kits to the studio, the team working overtime to catch up on Xbox-specific development, and everything launching together in late 2026 or early 2027. The pessimistic scenario involves months more delay, an Xbox port arriving 6-12 months after other platforms, and frustrated fans rightfully questioning why this issue wasn’t resolved earlier in the development cycle.
Community Reactions
Predictably, the situation sparked heated discussions on social media. Some Xbox fans expressed frustration with Microsoft for the delay, arguing that a major console manufacturer should have better logistics for getting hardware to developers. Others defended Microsoft, noting that mistakes happen even in well-run programs and that the ID@Xbox team will likely prioritize fixing this situation now that it’s public.
PlayStation and PC players mostly sympathized while quietly celebrating that their platforms wouldn’t face similar delays. Some suggested that developers should always secure dev kits earlier in production to avoid these situations, though that ignores the reality that many indie studios can’t afford to join platform programs until they have something concrete to show publishers and platform holders.
What Happens Next?
The ball is firmly in Microsoft’s court now. With the situation public and generating negative press, expect the Xbox team to expedite dev kit delivery to Up Software. Microsoft’s gaming division under Phil Spencer has worked hard to build positive relationships with indie developers, and letting a high-profile remake languish in limbo damages that reputation.
Cube Game’s statement expressed hope that the situation can be resolved quickly in the new year. Given that 2025 just ended and we’re barely into 2026, there’s still plenty of time before any reasonable release window arrives. If Microsoft acts fast, this could become a minor footnote rather than a major controversy. If the delays continue, expect growing frustration from both the developers and Xbox fans eager to play the game.
The Bigger Picture
This situation highlights the unglamorous logistical challenges that can derail even well-funded game projects. Developers deal with supply chain issues, bureaucratic delays, hardware shortages, and countless other problems that never make headlines but significantly impact development timelines. For every game that launches smoothly across all platforms simultaneously, there are dozens of untold stories about last-minute complications and problem-solving behind the scenes.
It also demonstrates the importance of platform holders maintaining efficient developer support systems. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all compete not just for players but for developers choosing which platforms to prioritize. When dev kits don’t arrive on time, when technical support is slow, when approval processes drag on for months, developers remember. Those experiences influence future platform decisions that ultimately determine what games appear on which consoles.
FAQs
When is Sword and Fairy 4 Remake coming to Xbox?
There’s no confirmed release date for any platform yet. The Xbox version is delayed because the developer hasn’t received Xbox dev kits despite joining ID@Xbox earlier in 2025. The timeline depends on when Microsoft provides the necessary hardware.
What platforms is Sword and Fairy 4 Remake confirmed for?
The game is officially announced for PC and consoles. Specific console platforms haven’t been confirmed yet, though PlayStation 5 seems likely given the series’ history. Xbox is intended but delayed due to the dev kit situation.
Why does it look so similar to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Both games are turn-based RPGs made in Unreal Engine 5 with stylish combat and photorealistic graphics. They’re following similar modern JRPG design trends rather than one copying the other, though the visual similarities are striking.
What is the Sword and Fairy series?
The Legend of Sword and Fairy is a long-running Chinese RPG franchise dating back to 1995. It’s massive in Chinese-speaking markets but struggled to gain Western attention due to localization barriers. The remake is the first time this 2007 entry will release in the West.
What is ID@Xbox?
ID@Xbox is Microsoft’s independent developer program that provides free dev kits, technical support, and marketing assistance to help indie studios bring games to Xbox consoles. It’s generally very successful with hundreds of releases annually.
Can they release on other platforms first and Xbox later?
Yes, but staggered releases typically hurt sales and community momentum. The publisher hopes to resolve the dev kit issue quickly enough to launch simultaneously across all platforms.
Is this Microsoft’s fault?
It’s unclear what caused the delay, whether supply chain issues, administrative problems, or something else. Mistakes happen in large programs, and Microsoft will likely prioritize fixing this now that it’s public.
When did the developer join ID@Xbox?
According to Cube Game’s statement, Up Software joined the ID@Xbox program earlier in 2025. The exact timing isn’t specified, but it’s been months without receiving the promised dev kits.
Will this affect the game’s quality on Xbox?
Potentially. Developing with proper hardware from the beginning allows better optimization than porting after the fact. However, if they receive dev kits soon with enough development time, the Xbox version should be fine.
Conclusion
The Sword and Fairy 4 Remake dev kit situation is frustrating for everyone involved, but it’s far from the worst-case scenario. There’s no release date yet, meaning time still exists to resolve the issue before launch. Microsoft’s ID@Xbox program has an excellent track record, and this appears to be an unusual exception rather than the norm. With the situation now public and generating attention, expect Microsoft to expedite dev kit delivery and work closely with Up Software to get the Xbox version back on track. Whether Xbox players ultimately get a simultaneous launch or have to wait longer than other platforms remains to be seen, but at least the developer is being transparent about the challenges rather than staying silent. For now, all we can do is wait for updates and hope that 2026 brings good news for this promising remake that deserves to reach the widest possible audience across all platforms.