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

The highly anticipated Earthblade, from the creators of the acclaimed indie game Celeste, 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. In a statement, Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant internal rift, involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros, ultimately led to the decision. The core of the disagreement centered around the IP rights of Celeste, a detail Thorson chose not to elaborate on.

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

The loss of Medeiros, while not the sole reason, prompted a reevaluation of the project's viability. Thorson acknowledged that Earthblade's development was further behind schedule than anticipated, and the pressure to surpass the success of Celeste contributed significantly to the team's burnout.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a reduced team, EXOK plans to shift its focus to smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more sustainable development process. Thorson and Berry aim to return to the creative spirit that characterized their work on Celeste and TowerFall. They expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer featuring Névoa, a child of Fate, journeying across a ruined Earth. The cancellation marks a significant setback, but EXOK remains committed to future endeavors.