KYOTO, JAPAN – Oct. 28, 2025 – Publisher CULT and developer 17-BIT (Skulls of the Shogun, GALAK-Z, Song in the Smoke) today announced during the ID@Xbox Fall 2025 Showcase that their highly anticipated physics-based brawler, AWAYSIS, will be launching Day One on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
AWAYSIS is a 1-to-4-player co-op adventure that drops players onto a mystical, sun-drenched floating temple under attack by dark forces. The game is a modern homage to the aesthetics of the JPRGs of the 1990’s but built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. Revealed in a new trailer, the game is set to deliver chaotic, session-based co-op fun.
The game’s core is its custom-built physics combat and movement system. In AWAYSIS, every fight is a unique, unscripted brawl. Players can jump, slide and collide into not just enemies, but also environmental objects and even their co-op partners. This dynamic system, inspired both by slapstick action and high-precision brawling, moves beyond canned animations to create a hilarious sandbox where every encounter offers emergent, unpredictable solutions.
All this chaos is wrapped in a fast-paced narrative filled with unexpected twists, taking place in wacky arenas laden with environmental dangers (and half-pipes!)
"AWAYSIS plays like nothing else you've ever experienced. It brings the precision of control that we've been dreaming about while playing physics-based combat games. With our amazing team and legendary collaborators we’ve built a new type of action game, whose movement is dynamic and meaningful, combat is nuanced and physical, while bringing people together in an unforgettable way. Jump in with your friends for adventures together or enjoy competitive mode for even more fun. Game Pass is the perfect way to open this up for fans of all ages to jump in and start causing chaos together."
AWAYSIS’ unique style is the work of an all-star development team, featuring art from Satoshi Matsuura (Mother 3, Legend of Mana), environment design by Alexandre Diboine (Disney's Amphibia, Owl House), and a legendary soundscape with extensive original music from iconic composer Hip Tanaka (Metroid, EarthBound).
Key Features:
- 1-4 Player Co-op Chaos: Brave handcrafted deep dark dungeons, wind swept sky gardens and much more with friends or go it alone in quick, rewarding sessions.
- Unique Physics-Based Combat: Master a deep, emergent combat system where every encounter is unscripted and reactive.
- Game-Changing Loot: Discover a trove of unique loot and powerful gear that change your abilities and playstyle with every run.
- Slapstick Story: Unravel a bizarre and funny meta-narrative about restoring balance to a mystical ancient floating relic... and dealing with its weird inhabitants.
- Retro-Modern Aesthetics: A loving homage to the distinct, stylized graphics of the 1990's JRPGs, reimagined in Unreal Engine 5.
- Legendary Soundtrack: A brand-new, driving score featuring extensive original music from iconic composer Hip Tanaka (Metroid, EarthBound).
- Day One with Game Pass: AWAYSIS will be available for all Xbox Game Pass members on Xbox Series X|S and PC from the first day of its launch in 2026. AWAYSIS is available to wishlist now on the Xbox Store as well as Steam, where you can also sign up for our upcoming playtest.
AWAYSIS is available to wishlist now on the Xbox Store as well as Steam, where you can also sign up for our upcoming playtest.
About 17-BITWe are 17-BIT, an award-winning studio based in Kyoto, Japan. For over 16 years, our mission has been to revitalize classic genres for next-generation gaming, lovingly draped in the luxuries of modern horsepower, cutting-edge AI, physics, and intoxicating signature gameplay.
About CULTCULT Games is an ambitious independent games label for ambitious independent game developers, working with world-class development studios to publish extraordinary games with a community‑focused approach. Led by a team with decades of experience driving commercial and critical success in games, the sometimes zealous, always hardworking, London‑HQ’d collective began launching games in 2024.
Media contactCULT Games: korina@thecultgames.com
17-BIT: Steve@17-bit.com