Extremely OK Games Cancels Earthblade: A Message from the Developers

Extremely OK Games, the indie studio behind the critically acclaimed Celeste, has announced the cancellation of their highly anticipated follow-up game, Earthblade. Initially revealed in 2022, Earthblade was expected to launch last year, but the project has now been officially shelved. The news was shared today by Maddy Thorson, one of the studio’s co-founders, in a heartfelt update on the studio’s website.

In her post, Thorson opened up about the challenges the team faced while working on the game:

“Noel and I… began to reflect on how the game has felt for us to work on day-to-day, and realized that it has been a struggle for a long time. Sure, working on one project for so long is bound to become a slog, but this feels like a deeper problem. Celeste’s success applied pressure on us to deliver something bigger and better with Earthblade, and that pressure is a large part of why working on it has become so exhausting.”

This decision comes after a period of transition within the studio. In November, Extremely OK Games saw the departure of co-founder Pedro Medeiros, who left to focus on his new project, Neverway. Despite Medeiros’ exit, Thorson emphasized that the cancellation of Earthblade was not due to any discord among the team. She clarified that the struggles with Earthblade were tied to the weight of expectations and not interpersonal conflicts.

Thorson also expressed her unwavering support for Medeiros and his new endeavor, cautioning fans against placing blame on him or his team for the decision to cancel Earthblade:

“If you were excited about Earthblade and angry about its cancelling, Pedro and the Neverway team aren’t the enemy and anyone who treats them as such isn’t welcome in any EXOK community.”

The public interactions between the former colleagues have remained positive and professional, with Thorson expressing her best wishes for Medeiros and his work on Neverway.

While the cancellation of Earthblade is undoubtedly disappointing for fans of Celeste and indie gaming, the candid insights shared by the developers shed light on the pressures and challenges of game development. For now, it seems Extremely OK Games will take time to regroup and determine their future direction, but their commitment to fostering a respectful and supportive community remains steadfast.