Earthblade: A Heartbreaking Cancellation

The long-awaited Earthblade, from the creators of the acclaimed indie game Celeste, has been cancelled. This decision, announced by Extremely OK Games (EXOK), follows significant internal challenges within the development team.

Internal Conflicts Lead to Cancellation

In a heartfelt announcement titled "Final Earthblade Update," EXOK Director Maddy Thorson revealed the reasons behind the cancellation. She explained that a fundamental disagreement, centered around the intellectual property rights of Celeste, created a significant fracture within the team, involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros.

While a resolution was reached, it ultimately led to Medeiros departing to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a new studio. Thorson emphasized that despite the circumstances, there are no hard feelings, stating that Medeiros and the Neverway team are not considered adversaries.

The loss of Medeiros, coupled with the game's less-than-expected progress after a prolonged development period, prompted a reassessment. Thorson acknowledged the immense pressure stemming from Celeste's success, contributing to team burnout and ultimately leading to the decision to cancel Earthblade.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a significant restructuring of the team, Thorson and Berry plan to refocus on smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more sustainable and enjoyable development process. They aim to rediscover the creative energy that fueled their work on Celeste and TowerFall. The team expresses hope for future collaborations with former members. The statement concludes on a positive note, emphasizing a return to their roots and a renewed focus on creative joy.

Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer, would have followed the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, returning to a ravaged Earth to uncover its history.