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

Internal Disputes Lead to Earthblade's Cancellation

Extremely OK Games (EXOK), the studio behind Celeste, announced the heartbreaking news on their website. In a statement, Director Maddy Thorson explained the reasons behind the cancellation, citing a significant internal rift.

The conflict stemmed from disagreements over the intellectual property rights of Celeste, involving Thorson, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros. While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros' departure to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a new studio. Thorson emphasized that despite the disagreements, there are no hard feelings, and urged the community to avoid negativity towards Medeiros and his new venture.

The loss of Medeiros wasn't the sole reason for cancellation, but it highlighted underlying issues. The project's protracted development and the pressure to surpass the success of Celeste contributed to team burnout and a sense of being significantly behind schedule. Thorson acknowledged that the team had lost its way and that cancellation was the necessary decision.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a reduced team, EXOK plans to refocus on smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a return to the creative spirit that fueled Celeste and TowerFall. They are currently prototyping and experimenting, aiming to rediscover a more enjoyable development process. Thorson expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members. The statement concluded on a positive note, emphasizing the team's commitment to learning from this experience and moving forward.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer featuring Névoa, a child of Fate, exploring a ruined Earth. The cancellation marks a significant loss for fans, but also underscores the challenges faced by even the most talented teams in game development.