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

Earthblade Cancelled: Celeste Developers Announce Project Closure

The highly anticipated Earthblade, from the creators of the acclaimed indie game Celeste, has been cancelled. This decision follows significant internal challenges within Extremely OK Games (EXOK).

Internal Disagreements Lead to Cancellation

In a heartfelt announcement on their website, EXOK Director Maddy Thorson revealed the difficult decision to cancel Earthblade. The announcement detailed a fracture within the team, stemming from disagreements regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste, involving Thorson, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros. While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros departing to pursue his own project, Neverway. Thorson emphasized that despite the disagreements, there are no hard feelings, and EXOK welcomes continued positive engagement with Medeiros and his team.

Thorson acknowledged that Medeiros's departure wasn't the sole reason for cancellation, but it highlighted underlying issues. The prolonged development and the pressure to surpass the success of Celeste contributed to team exhaustion and a loss of direction. The team ultimately decided that continuing Earthblade wasn't the right path forward.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a restructured team, EXOK plans to refocus on smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more sustainable and enjoyable development process. They aim to rediscover the creative energy that fueled Celeste and TowerFall. Thorson expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members. The statement concluded on a positive note, emphasizing the team's commitment to learning from this experience and moving forward.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer, following the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, returning to a ruined Earth. While its release is no longer possible, the team’s commitment to future projects remains strong.