Earthblade Canceled Amidst Discord

Earthblade Cancellation: Internal Disputes Halt Development

Extremely OK Games (EXOK), the creators of the acclaimed indie title Celeste, have announced the cancellation of their highly anticipated project, Earthblade. This decision follows significant internal disagreements within the development team.

In a statement on their official website, EXOK Director Maddy Thorson explained that a fundamental fracture developed within the team, primarily involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros. The core of the conflict stemmed from a disagreement regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste, a matter Thorson chose not to elaborate upon publicly.

While a resolution was reached, it resulted in Medeiros' departure to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a separate studio. Thorson emphasized that despite the circumstances, there are no hard feelings, stating that Medeiros and his team are not considered adversaries.

Thorson acknowledged that Medeiros' departure was not the sole reason for Earthblade's cancellation, but it highlighted underlying issues. The project, despite its potential, was not as far along as anticipated after an extended development period. The immense success of Celeste also created significant pressure to deliver an even larger and more impressive game, contributing to team burnout.

EXOK's Future Focus:

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

Earthblade, envisioned as an explor-action platformer, would have followed the journey of Névoa, a child of Fate, as they explored a ruined Earth. While the game's cancellation is undoubtedly disappointing, EXOK's commitment to a healthier development approach offers a glimmer of hope for future projects.