Celeste Devs Cancel Earthblade Game

Earthblade: A Heartbreaking Cancellation

The highly anticipated Earthblade, from the creators of the acclaimed indie game Celeste, has been cancelled. This decision, announced by Extremely OK Games (EXOK), follows significant internal challenges within the development team.

Internal Conflicts Lead to Cancellation

In a poignant update on their website, EXOK Director Maddy Thorson revealed the difficult truth behind the cancellation. The team experienced a significant internal fracture, stemming from disagreements regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste, involving Thorson, EXOK programmer Noel Berry, and former Art Director Pedro Medeiros. While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros departing to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a new studio. Thorson emphasized that despite the circumstances, Medeiros and the Neverway team are not considered adversaries by EXOK.

The loss of Medeiros wasn't the sole reason for cancellation, however. Thorson acknowledged that the project's progress was slower than anticipated, and the pressure of following up Celeste's immense success contributed to burnout within the team. The decision to cancel, while painful, was ultimately seen as necessary to regain creative energy and a more sustainable development approach.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a smaller team, Thorson and Berry plan to shift their focus to smaller-scale projects, aiming to rediscover the joy and creative freedom experienced during the development of Celeste and TowerFall. They expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members. The statement concluded on a positive note, emphasizing the team's commitment to learning from this experience and moving forward.

Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer, would have followed the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, returning to a ravaged Earth. While its release is no longer possible, the team’s commitment to future projects remains strong.