Earthblade: A Heartbreaking Cancellation
The highly anticipated Earthblade, from the creators of the acclaimed indie game Celeste, has been cancelled. This announcement, delivered by Extremely OK Games (EXOK) on their website, reveals internal struggles as the primary reason.
Internal Disagreements and Departure
In a candid statement, EXOK Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant rift developed within the team, involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former Art Director Pedro Medeiros. The core of the conflict stemmed from a disagreement over the intellectual property rights of Celeste, a detail 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 circumstances, Medeiros and the Neverway team remain on good terms and should not be viewed negatively by the EXOK community.
The loss of Medeiros, coupled with the realization that Earthblade’s development was further behind schedule than anticipated, led to the difficult decision to cancel the project. Thorson acknowledged the immense pressure stemming from Celeste’s success, admitting that this pressure contributed significantly to the team’s exhaustion and ultimately, the loss of direction.
Looking Ahead: A Return to Roots
With a significant portion of the team moving on, EXOK’s future will involve a shift towards smaller-scale projects. Thorson and Berry plan to return to a more organic development process, similar to their approach with Celeste and TowerFall. They express hope for future collaborations with former team members. The statement concludes with a positive outlook, emphasizing a renewed focus on creative joy and a return to their development roots.
Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer, would have followed the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate returning to a ruined Earth. While its release will not come to pass, the developers’ commitment to future projects and a healthier creative process offers a glimmer of hope for fans.
