Celeste Devs Cancel 'Earthblade' Project Amidst Disputes

The highly anticipated Earthblade, from the creators of the acclaimed Celeste, has been cancelled due to internal team conflicts. This article details the events leading to this unfortunate decision.

Internal Disputes Lead to Cancellation

Extremely OK Games (EXOK), the studio behind Celeste, announced the cancellation of Earthblade in a statement on their website. Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant internal rift, involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros, contributed to the cancellation. The core of the conflict centered on a disagreement regarding 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 despite the circumstances, there are no hard feelings, stating that Medeiros and his team are not the enemy.

Medeiros’ departure wasn't the sole reason for the cancellation, but it prompted a reassessment of the project's viability. Thorson acknowledged that Earthblade's development hadn't progressed as expected, despite its potential. The immense success of Celeste also created significant pressure to deliver a superior sequel, contributing to team burnout.

EXOK's Future Focus

With a reduced team, Thorson and Berry plan to refocus on smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more sustainable and enjoyable development process. They are currently prototyping and experimenting, aiming to recapture the creative energy of their earlier work on Celeste and TowerFall. They also expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members.

Earthblade was envisioned as an explor-action platformer featuring Névoa, a child of Fate, exploring a ruined Earth. While its cancellation is disappointing, EXOK's commitment to a healthier development approach suggests a more positive future for the studio.