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

Earthblade Cancelled: Internal Disputes Halt Development

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

EXOK Director Maddy Thorson explained that a fundamental disagreement regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste created a rift within the team, particularly between herself, 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 stressed that there are no hard feelings, emphasizing that Medeiros and his team are not adversaries.

The loss of Medeiros, coupled with the game's less-than-expected progress after a lengthy development period, prompted EXOK to reassess the viability of completing Earthblade. Thorson acknowledged the immense pressure stemming from Celeste's success, contributing to the team's exhaustion and ultimately leading to the cancellation.

Looking Ahead: A Return to Roots

With a significant portion of the team moving on, Thorson and Berry intend to refocus on smaller-scale projects, aiming to recapture the creative energy of their earlier works, Celeste and TowerFall. They are currently prototyping and experimenting, hoping to collaborate with former team members in the future.

Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer featuring the character Névoa, will remain unrealized. However, EXOK remains optimistic about the future, committed to rediscovering the joy of game development and pursuing new creative endeavors.