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

The highly anticipated Earthblade, from the creators of Celeste, has been cancelled due to internal team conflicts. This follows a statement released by Extremely OK Games (EXOK) detailing the reasons behind the difficult decision.

Internal Disputes Lead to Cancellation

EXOK Director Maddy Thorson and programmer Noel Berry announced the cancellation on the studio's website. Thorson explained that a significant contributing factor was a "fracture" within the team, stemming from disagreements regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste. This dispute involved Thorson, Berry, and former Art Director Pedro Medeiros.

While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros' departure to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a new studio. Thorson emphasized that there are no hard feelings, stating that Medeiros and his team are not considered adversaries.

The loss of Medeiros wasn't the sole reason for cancellation, but it highlighted underlying issues. Thorson noted that the game's development was further behind schedule than anticipated, and the pressure of following up Celeste's success proved overwhelming. The team ultimately recognized the need to step back and reassess.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a smaller team, EXOK plans to shift its focus to smaller-scale projects, aiming to recapture the creative energy of their earlier work on Celeste and TowerFall. They are currently prototyping and experimenting, prioritizing a more sustainable and enjoyable development process. The studio expressed a hope to collaborate with former team members in the future.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer featuring Névoa, a child of Fate, exploring a ruined Earth. While its cancellation is undoubtedly disappointing, EXOK's commitment to a healthier development approach suggests a potentially brighter future for the studio.