"A hidden gem emerged in the realm of entertainment": Unnoticed Innovation in Boxing: A Look at Its Emerging Role in Game Development
In the world of video games, a new contender has stepped into the ring. Felt That: Boxing, developed by Sans Strings Studio, is a comedic 3D arcade fighter that's turning heads with its innovative real-time digital puppetry system.
The game follows the journey of Ezra 'Fuzz-E' Wright, an unadoptable orphan, as he undergoes a grueling training routine to become a prizefighter and save his orphanage. This heartwarming narrative is a departure from Felt That: Boxing's humorous origins, which began as a boxing skit for an SNL-style sketch show called String Theory.
The real-time digital puppetry system used in Felt That: Boxing sets it apart from traditional CGI games. Instead of pre-scripted or rendered animations, characters' movements are performed live via puppeteering technology, driven by player input in real-time. This allows for expressive and somewhat unpredictable character motion, creating a natural, live puppeteering effect.
Sans Strings Studio, in collaboration with Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, is at the forefront of this digital puppetry revolution. Ryan Corniel, co-founder and real-time digital artist at Sans Strings Studio, developed a system in Unreal Engine 5 for real-time digital puppetry, a feat that has earned admiration from Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. Henson described Corniel's work as "the closest to what my father was doing," and the closest digital world she's seen that has "some soul."
By the end of the year, Sans Strings Studio hopes to have a "vertical slice" of the game, with a "full game loop," available to play. The next big milestone is the end of summer, when playable versions of some of the game's main components will be rolled out.
Felt That: Boxing was first revealed at Summer Game Fest 2025, and since then, it has already been added to 112,000 Steam wishlists. The ultimate goal is to release Felt That: Boxing at the end of 2026, less than two years after full production began.
With its unique blend of comedy, heartwarming narrative, and groundbreaking real-time digital puppetry, Felt That: Boxing is poised to make a significant impact in the gaming world.
- With the upcoming releases of Felt That: Boxing, gamers can look forward to immersing themselves in the innovative world of real-time digital puppetry using a controller, a game that could revolutionize the entertainment industry.
- The upcoming action-packed game, Felt That: Boxing, is not just another CGI game – it offers an unusual blend of live character movement through puppeteering technology, driven by player input, offering expressive and sometimes unpredictable character motion.
- In the world of technology and gadgets, Sans Strings Studio and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios have combined their expertise to lead the way in digital puppetry with Felt That: Boxing, garnering compliments from Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company.
- Television and gaming buffs will soon be able to try out the vertical slice of Felt That: Boxing, featuring a full game loop, before the official release scheduled for the end of 2026 – a testament to Sans Strings Studio's dedication to the project.
- The news of Felt That: Boxing's highly-anticipated release has already gained significant interest, with 112,000 Steam wishlists, demonstrating gamers' thirst for fresh and innovative action games in the market.
