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

Earthblade, the highly anticipated sequel from the Celeste developers, has been cancelled due to internal team conflicts. This article details the circumstances surrounding the cancellation.

Internal Disputes Lead to Cancellation

Extremely OK Games (EXOK), the studio behind Celeste, announced the cancellation of Earthblade on their official website. Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant internal rift, involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros, contributed to the decision. The core of the conflict stemmed from a disagreement over the intellectual property rights of Celeste. While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros departing to work on his own project, Neverway. Thorson emphasized that there are no hard feelings and hopes for future collaboration.

The team's statement acknowledged that the pressure of following up the immense success of Celeste, coupled with the game's protracted development and less-than-expected progress, played a significant role in the cancellation. Thorson admitted that the team had lost its way and that cancelling the project was the best course of action.

EXOK's Future Focus

With key team members moving on, EXOK plans to refocus on smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more organic and enjoyable development process reminiscent of their work on Celeste and TowerFall. They expressed a desire to collaborate with former team members in the future. The statement concluded on a positive note, emphasizing a return to their creative roots and a renewed focus on enjoying the development process.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer centered around Névoa, a child of Fate returning to a ruined Earth. The cancellation marks a significant setback, but EXOK's future plans suggest a renewed commitment to creative fulfillment.