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 blog post titled "Final Earthblade Update," stems from significant internal challenges.
EXOK Director Maddy Thorson revealed a "fracture" within the team, specifically involving disagreements regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste, impacting the collaboration between herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros. 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 considered adversaries.
The loss of Medeiros, coupled with the project's slower-than-expected progress and the immense pressure following Celeste's success, ultimately led to the cancellation. Thorson acknowledged the exhaustion and admitted that the team had lost its way.
Looking Ahead: A Return to Roots
Thorson and Berry plan to refocus on smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more organic development process reminiscent of their work on Celeste and TowerFall. They expressed hope for future collaborations with former team members. The statement concluded on a positive note, emphasizing a return to their creative roots and a renewed focus on enjoyment in the development process.
Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer following the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, through a ruined Earth, will unfortunately not see the light of day.
