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

Earthblade Cancellation: A Heartbreaking Update from Extremely OK Games

Extremely OK Games (EXOK), the creators of the acclaimed indie title Celeste, have announced the cancellation of their highly anticipated project, Earthblade. This decision, detailed in a recent update on their website, stems from internal team challenges.

EXOK Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant contributing factor was a fracture within the team, specifically involving disagreements regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste. While a resolution was reached, it resulted in the departure of former Art Director Pedro Medeiros, who is now pursuing his own game, Neverway. Thorson emphasized that despite the circumstances, there are no hard feelings, and Medeiros and his team are not considered adversaries.

However, Medeiros' departure wasn't the sole reason for the cancellation. Thorson also cited the game's protracted development and the immense pressure stemming from Celeste's success as factors that led to team burnout and ultimately, the decision to cancel Earthblade. The project, while promising, hadn't progressed as anticipated.

Looking Ahead: A Return to Roots

With a significant portion of the original team moving on, EXOK, comprised of Thorson and Noel Berry, plans to refocus on smaller-scale projects. They intend to return to a more organic development process, similar to their approach with Celeste and TowerFall. They expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members.

Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer, would have followed the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, as they explored a ruined Earth. While the game's cancellation is undoubtedly disappointing for fans, EXOK's commitment to learning from this experience and prioritizing team well-being offers a glimmer of hope for the future.