OCT. PRE-LAUNCH TOURNEY FINISHES IN $5K FINALE AT GAMESCOM IN BANGKOK

   ✦ Thai studio SQUADX develops MTX, the first fighting sim dedicated to the art of Muay Thai 

  ✦ Regional online qualifiers begin Oct. 17, finalists advance to Oct. 31 live finale in Bangkok 

    ✦ Travel and hotel accommodation provided for invited finalists competing at gamescom asia 

 ✦ Muay Thai Xtreme (MTX) launches for fight sim fanatics across the globe in April of 2027 

BANGKOK, Thailand, September 19, 2026 | Thailand-based indie developer SQUADX today unveiled MUAY THAI XTREME (MTX), the first multiplayer fighting sim built entirely around the thrilling art of Muay Thai. Published by Rising Tide Publishing and scheduled for release in early 2027, MTX is built to authentically showcase the powerful strikes, tactics and creative techniques of Thailand’s national sport.

In the vein of UFC Undisputed and the Fight Night series, MTX immerses players in the detail and depth of combat sports. While MMA offers tastes of multiple martial arts, MTX gives Muay Thai the full spotlight, with its wide range of distinctive and brutal skills to master.

“There’s a Thai phrase, ‘su su,’ that means ‘keep fighting’ or ‘don’t give up,’” explained Justin Paulsen, founder of Rising Tide. “Working with SQUADX, I’ve seen how much this small, dedicated team has put into getting MTX right. It's long hours, constant iteration and a commitment to always improve the game. Muay Thai is an art. Translating that into a game is painstaking. Somewhere along the way, ‘never surrender’ became more than a theme for MTX. It became a tangible reflection of the team that made it.”

Ahead of launch, SQUADX and Rising Tide Publishing will kick off MTX’s competitive preview with the MTX: STRYK Creator Tournament, bringing together fighting game creators and variety streamers from Asia, Europe and North America. Regional online qualifiers will take place on Oct 17 and 24, 2026, with qualifying finalists advancing to the live STRYK championship on Oct 31 at gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show in Bangkok, where they will compete for a $5,000 USD prize pool. Travel and hotel accommodation will be provided for invited finalists traveling from outside Thailand.

The convention runs from Oct 29 to Nov 1, 2026, with its public entertainment area open from Oct 30 to Nov 1. The MTX final will take place within a 100-square-meter booth centered around a real 5-by-5-meter Muay Thai ring. Visitors will also find playable stations, a main-stage display and live programming throughout the public show.

This tournament marks the start of a wider competitive program, with further tournaments planned around MTX’s global release. Creator registration closes on Oct 1, 2026. Additional tournament details and updates will be announced in the coming weeks. Content creators and influencers can sign up here.

NEW TEASER TRAILER AND PRESS KIT HERE

ABOUT SQUADX

SQUADX is an independent game studio based in Bangkok, founded by lifelong gamers who set out to build the kinds of games they wanted to play themselves. Driven by a shared passion, the studio focuses on creating distinctive, immersive experiences with its own voice and identity.

ABOUT RISING TIDE PUBLISHING

Rising Tide Publishing is a boutique publishing house focused on gaming concepts that demonstrate sincerity through a distinctive creative vision. Linktree.