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

Earthblade: A Heartbreaking Cancellation

The long-awaited Earthblade, from the creators of the acclaimed Celeste, has been cancelled. This decision, announced by Extremely OK Games (EXOK), follows significant internal challenges.

Internal Divisions Lead to Cancellation

In a heartfelt statement on their website, EXOK Director Maddy Thorson revealed the difficult decision to cancel Earthblade. The announcement, titled "Final Earthblade Update," details a fracture within the team, specifically involving Thorson, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros. A disagreement regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste contributed to this internal conflict.

While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros leaving EXOK to pursue his own project, Neverway. Thorson emphasized that Medeiros and his new team are not considered adversaries and that any negativity towards them will not be tolerated within the EXOK community. However, Medeiros's departure, coupled with the game's less-than-expected progress after an extended development period, ultimately led to the cancellation. The immense pressure following Celeste's success also contributed to the team's exhaustion and ultimately, the decision to halt development.

EXOK’s Future Focus

With a significant portion of their team moving on, Thorson and Berry intend to refocus on smaller-scale projects. They plan to return to a more experimental approach to game development, 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 their creative roots and a renewed focus on joy in the development process.

Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer, would have followed the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, returning to a ruined Earth to unravel its mysteries.