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 internal team challenges.
EXOK Director Maddy Thorson explained that a significant contributing factor was a "fracture" within the team, involving herself, programmer Noel Berry, and former art director Pedro Medeiros. This fracture centered on a disagreement regarding the intellectual property rights of Celeste, a complex issue Thorson chose not to elaborate on publicly.
While the team reached a resolution, it resulted in Medeiros departing to pursue his own project, Neverway, under a new studio. Thorson emphasized that despite the circumstances, there are no hard feelings, stating, "Pedro and the Neverway team aren't the enemy."
Medeiros' departure wasn't the sole reason for the cancellation. Thorson also cited the game's protracted development and the pressure stemming from Celeste's success as contributing factors. The team ultimately concluded that continuing development wasn't the right path forward.
Looking Ahead: A Return to Roots
With a significant portion of the team moving on, Thorson and Berry intend to refocus on smaller-scale projects, prioritizing a more sustainable and enjoyable development process. They aim to recapture the creative spirit of their earlier works, Celeste and TowerFall. They also 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, exploring a ruined Earth. While its release will not happen, EXOK remains committed to creating games and fostering positive relationships within the industry.
