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

Earthblade, the highly anticipated project from the Celeste developers, has been cancelled due to internal team conflicts. This article details the events leading to this unfortunate decision.

Internal Discord Leads to Cancellation

Extremely OK Games (EXOK), the studio behind the acclaimed Celeste, announced the cancellation of Earthblade on their official website. In a statement, Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant internal rift, involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros, ultimately led to the project's demise. The core of the conflict stemmed from a disagreement regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste, a detail Thorson chose not to elaborate on.

While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros' departure to pursue his own game, 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, coupled with the realization that Earthblade's development was significantly behind schedule, prompted EXOK to reassess the project's viability. The immense success of Celeste created pressure to deliver an even grander sequel, contributing to team burnout. Thorson acknowledged that the team had lost its way and that cancellation was the necessary course of action.

EXOK's Future Endeavors

Following the departure of key team members, Thorson and Berry intend to refocus on smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more sustainable and enjoyable development process. They are currently prototyping and experimenting, aiming to recapture the creative spirit of their earlier 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 roots and a renewed focus on creative joy.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer centered around Névoa, a child of Fate, returning to a ruined Earth to uncover its history. The cancellation marks a significant setback, but EXOK remains committed to future game development.