Celeste Devs' Earthblade Cancelled Amidst Dispute

The highly anticipated Earthblade, from the creators of 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 cancellation of Earthblade on their website. In a statement, Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant internal rift developed, primarily between herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros. This disagreement centered around the IP rights of Celeste, a complex issue Thorson chose not to elaborate on.

While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros leaving EXOK to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a new studio. Thorson emphasized that despite the conflict, there are no hard feelings and hopes for future collaboration.

The loss of Medeiros wasn't the sole reason for the cancellation, but it highlighted underlying issues. Thorson noted that the game's development was further behind schedule than anticipated, and the pressure of following up Celeste's success contributed to burnout. The team ultimately decided to halt development.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a reduced team, Thorson and Berry plan to refocus on smaller-scale projects, returning to a more organic development process similar to 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 enjoyment.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer following Névoa, a child of Fate, as they explore a ruined Earth. The cancellation marks a significant setback, but EXOK remains committed to future projects.