Earthblade, the highly anticipated sequel from the Celeste developers, has been cancelled due to internal team conflicts. This article details the events leading to the cancellation.
Internal Disputes Lead 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. The core issue stemmed from a disagreement regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste.
While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros' departure to pursue his own project, Neverway. Thorson emphasized that there are no hard feelings and encouraged community support for Medeiros' new venture.
However, Medeiros' departure wasn't the sole reason for cancellation. Thorson admitted that the game's progress was slower than anticipated, and the pressure to surpass Celeste's success significantly impacted the team's morale and creative process. The decision to cancel was ultimately made to allow the team to regroup and refocus.
EXOK's Future Endeavors
With a smaller team, EXOK plans to shift its focus to smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more sustainable and enjoyable development process. They aim to return to the creative spirit that fueled Celeste and TowerFall. Thorson expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members.
Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer featuring Névoa, a child of Fate, exploring a ruined Earth. While its cancellation is disappointing, EXOK's commitment to a healthier development approach offers a glimmer of hope for future projects.
