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

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 game's cancellation.

Internal Disputes Lead to Earthblade's 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 fracture, involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros, led to the decision. The core of the conflict stemmed from a disagreement over the intellectual property rights of Celeste, a detail Thorson chose not to elaborate on.

While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros' departure to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a new studio. Thorson emphasized that there are no hard feelings, stating that Medeiros and his team are not the antagonists and should not be treated as such within the EXOK community.

Medeiros' departure wasn't the sole reason for cancellation, but it highlighted the need for a reassessment of the project's viability. Thorson acknowledged that Earthblade's development had been protracted and the game wasn't as far along as anticipated. She also cited the immense pressure stemming from Celeste's success as a contributing factor to the team's burnout. Ultimately, the team decided to acknowledge the project's challenges and cease development.

EXOK's Future Endeavors

With a significant portion of their team moving on, Thorson and Berry plan to refocus on smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more sustainable development approach reminiscent of their work on Celeste and TowerFall. They aim to prototype and experiment at their own pace, hoping to collaborate with former team members in the future. Thorson concluded the announcement on a positive note, emphasizing the team's commitment to rediscovering joy in their creative process.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer centered around Névoa, a child of Fate returning to a ravaged Earth. The cancellation marks a significant setback, but the developers express optimism about their future endeavors.