Earthblade Cancelled: Celeste Developers Announce Project Closure

The highly anticipated Earthblade, from the creators of the acclaimed indie game Celeste, has been cancelled. Extremely OK Games (EXOK) announced the difficult decision on their website, citing internal issues as the primary reason.

In a heartfelt announcement titled "Final Earthblade Update," EXOK Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant "fracture" within the team, involving disagreements over Celeste's IP rights, led to the cancellation. While details remain undisclosed, Thorson acknowledged the conflict between herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros. This ultimately resulted in Medeiros' departure to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a new studio. Thorson stressed that despite the circumstances, there are no hard feelings, and EXOK welcomes continued support for Medeiros and his team.

Thorson emphasized that Medeiros’ departure wasn't the sole factor in the cancellation. The game's protracted development and the pressure to surpass the success of Celeste contributed significantly to the team's exhaustion and ultimately led to the decision to cancel the project. The team acknowledges the game wasn't as far along as anticipated.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a smaller team now, Thorson and Berry plan to refocus on smaller-scale projects, returning to a more organic development process similar to their work on Celeste and TowerFall. They expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members. The statement concluded with a positive outlook, emphasizing a renewed focus on creative joy and a return to their roots.

Earthblade, envisioned as an "explor-action platformer," was to follow the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, returning to a ruined Earth. While its release is no longer possible, the legacy of Celeste and the experiences of EXOK will undoubtedly shape their future endeavors.