Earthblade, a Game by Celeste Devs, Cancelled Due to \"Disagreements\"

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), stems from internal challenges within the development team.

Internal Disputes Lead to Cancellation

In a heartfelt statement on their website, EXOK Director Maddy Thorson revealed the difficult decision to cancel Earthblade. Thorson explained that a significant contributing factor was a fracture within the team, specifically involving disagreements regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste. While details remain undisclosed, this disagreement ultimately led to a resolution that saw former Art Director Pedro Medeiros depart to pursue his own project, Neverway. Thorson emphasized that despite the circumstances, Medeiros and his new team are not considered adversaries, and any negativity towards them will not be tolerated within the EXOK community.

Beyond the IP dispute, Thorson cited the prolonged development process and the immense pressure stemming from Celeste's success as contributing factors. The team's progress was not as far along as expected, and the pressure to surpass their previous achievement proved exhausting. The decision to cancel, while painful, is viewed as a necessary step to regain creative momentum and joy.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a reshaped team, Thorson and programmer Noel Berry plan to shift their focus to smaller-scale projects, aiming to rediscover the creative spirit that fueled their earlier successes. They are currently prototyping and experimenting, hoping to collaborate with former team members in the future. The statement concluded with a message of hope and a commitment to regaining creative joy.

Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer, was to follow the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, as they explored a ruined Earth. While the game's cancellation is undoubtedly disappointing for fans, EXOK's commitment to learning from this experience and refocusing on smaller projects offers a glimmer of hope for the future.