Indie Game "Earthblade" Nixed After Dev Split

Earthblade, the highly anticipated project from the Celeste creators, has been cancelled due to internal team conflicts. This article details the circumstances surrounding the cancellation.

Internal Discord Leads to Cancellation

Extremely OK Games (EXOK), the studio behind Celeste, announced the cancellation of Earthblade on their website. Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant internal fracture, involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros, contributed to the decision. A dispute over the intellectual property rights of Celeste was a central point of contention.

While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros leaving EXOK to pursue his own project, Neverway. Thorson emphasized that there are no hard feelings and hopes for future collaboration. However, the loss of Medeiros, coupled with the game's slower-than-expected progress and the pressure of following up Celeste's success, led to the cancellation. The team acknowledged burnout and a loss of direction.

Thorson expressed regret for disappointing fans and admitted the cancellation was a significant setback. She emphasized the emotional toll of the situation on the team.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a reduced team, EXOK plans to shift its focus to smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more sustainable and enjoyable development process. They aim to rediscover the creative energy that fueled Celeste and TowerFall. The studio expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer following Névoa, a child of Fate, on a ruined Earth. The cancellation marks a significant loss for fans, but EXOK remains optimistic about its future endeavors.