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

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 update on their website, stems from internal challenges and disagreements within the development team.

EXOK Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant contributing factor was a "fracture" within the team, specifically involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros. The core issue revolved around a disagreement concerning the intellectual property rights of Celeste, a matter Thorson chose not to elaborate on publicly.

While this conflict ultimately led to Medeiros' departure and the launch of his own project, Neverway, Thorson emphasized that there are no hard feelings. She stressed that Medeiros and his team are not considered adversaries and that any negativity towards them will not be tolerated within the EXOK community.

Beyond the personnel changes, Thorson cited the game's protracted development and the immense pressure stemming from Celeste's success as contributing factors to the cancellation. The team acknowledged that Earthblade wasn't as far along as expected and that the weight of expectations had become overwhelming.

Looking Ahead: A Return to Roots

With the departure of several team members, EXOK is now refocusing on smaller-scale projects. Thorson and Berry plan to return to a more organic development process, similar to their approach with Celeste and TowerFall. They expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members.

The statement concluded on a positive note, emphasizing the team's commitment to rediscovering the joy of game development and moving forward with renewed energy.

Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer featuring the character Névoa, will not be released. The game's premise involved Névoa's journey across a ruined Earth.