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

Earthblade Cancelled: Celeste Developers Announce Project Termination

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.

Internal Disputes Lead to Cancellation

In a heartfelt announcement titled "Final Earthblade Update," EXOK Director Maddy Thorson revealed the reasons behind the cancellation. She explained that a fundamental disagreement, specifically concerning the intellectual property rights of Celeste, created a fracture within the team. This disagreement involved Thorson, EXOK programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros.

While a resolution was reached, it ultimately led to Medeiros' departure to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a new studio. Thorson emphasized that despite the circumstances, there are no hard feelings, stating, "Pedro and the Neverway team aren't the enemy and anyone who treats them as such isn't welcome in any EXOK community."

The loss of Medeiros, however, wasn't the sole reason for cancellation. Thorson acknowledged that the project's progress was slower than anticipated after a lengthy development period. She also candidly admitted that the immense success of Celeste created pressure to deliver an even grander sequel, contributing to team burnout. The decision to cancel, therefore, was a recognition that the project had lost its way.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a significantly reduced team, EXOK plans to refocus on smaller-scale projects. Thorson and Berry intend to return to their roots, prioritizing a more enjoyable and sustainable development process, similar to their work on Celeste and TowerFall. They expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members. The statement concluded on a positive note, emphasizing a return to a more joyful creative process.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer, following the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, as she navigates a ruined Earth.