Earthblade, the highly anticipated game from the Celeste developers, 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. Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant internal rift, primarily between herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros, contributed to the decision. A dispute over the intellectual property rights of Celeste was a central point of contention.
While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros departing to pursue his own project, Neverway. 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.
The loss of Medeiros wasn't the sole reason for cancellation; the game's protracted development and the pressure stemming from Celeste's success also played a significant role. Thorson acknowledged that the team had lost its way and that cancelling the project was the best course of action.
EXOK's Future Focus
With a reduced team, Thorson and Berry plan to shift their focus to smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a return to the creative spirit that fueled Celeste and TowerFall. They aim to prototype and experiment at their own pace, hoping for future collaborations with former team members. The statement concludes with a positive outlook, emphasizing a return to their creative roots and a renewed sense of joy in game development.
Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer, following the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, as they navigate a ruined Earth.
