Earthblade Cancellation: A Heartbreaking Update from Extremely OK Games
Extremely OK Games (EXOK), the creators of the acclaimed indie title Celeste, have announced the cancellation of their highly anticipated project, Earthblade. This decision, detailed in a recent blog post titled "Final Earthblade Update," stems from significant internal challenges.
EXOK Director Maddy Thorson revealed a "fracture" within the team, primarily involving disagreements regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste. This conflict, involving Thorson, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros, ultimately led to a resolution but resulted in Medeiros' departure 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 his team are not considered adversaries.
The loss of Medeiros wasn't the sole reason for cancellation. Thorson also cited the game's slower-than-expected progress and the immense pressure stemming from Celeste's success. The team acknowledged that the pressure to surpass their previous achievement contributed to burnout and ultimately led to the decision to cancel Earthblade.
Looking Ahead: A Return to Roots
With a smaller team, Thorson and Berry plan to refocus on smaller-scale projects, aiming to recapture the creative energy and collaborative spirit of their earlier works. They expressed a desire to collaborate with former team members in the future. The statement concluded on a positive note, emphasizing a renewed commitment to a more sustainable and joyful creative process.
Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer featuring the character Névoa, a child of Fate returning to a devastated Earth, will not see the light of day. However, the developers' commitment to future projects offers a glimmer of hope for fans of their unique style.
