Due to unspecified reasons, Extremely OK Games has decided not to proceed with the release of “Earthblade“, the 2D action-exploration game they announced in April 2021, which was set to launch on PC through Steam. The creators of “Celeste” were behind this project.
Here is the full message from Extremely OK Games on the game’s cancelation:
Greetings all, starting off 2025 with some bittersweet tidings. Towards the end of last month, Noel and I faced a tough choice – we decided to scrap Earthblade. Yes, it’s unfortunate, but also freeing in a way. This announcement marks a significant setback for us at [Extremely OK Games]. Here, I’d like to explain the factors that led to this decision and its implications for our studio’s future.
Before I delve into the matter, let me express my understanding that this information may catch you off guard, especially for those who have been anxiously waiting for the game. We made this decision back in December and chose to announce it now. For us behind the scenes, we’ve had some time to come to terms with it, deal with our emotions, and start moving forward, although this process is not always straightforward and continues. To those who are emotionally invested in this project and might be feeling let down by this news, I apologize.
What Happened
In the early part of this year, a rift started emerging within our team, particularly between Noel, myself, and Pedro – a founding member, close friend, and collaborator at Extremely OK Games, who served as the art director for Earthblade and was responsible for pixel and user interface design in Celeste and TowerFall. The dispute mainly revolved around the ownership rights of Celeste, a matter we won’t delve into publicly as it was an emotionally taxing and painful experience. After much effort, we eventually reached a compromise; however, both parties felt that it would be best for us to part ways amicably. Pedro is currently working on his game Neverway, which I encourage you to explore – it shows great promise.
Cancelling the game wasn’t solely due to Pedro leaving, but his departure did lead us to reconsider whether completing Earthblade was the best course of action. The project had several positive aspects, however, it was disappointing that despite the lengthy development period, it hadn’t progressed as far as we anticipated. I am convinced that if we persevered, Earthblade could have been an excellent game.
Is it still worth enduring the hardship? Noel and I started contemplating on whether the day-to-day work on our project has been enjoyable or not, and we found that it’s been a tough grind for quite some time. While dedicating so much time to one project can inevitably become monotonous, this seems like more than just a routine issue. The success of Celeste placed high expectations on us for the sequel, Earthblade, which has been a significant contributor to our exhaustion. Pedro isn’t responsible for this predicament; rather, the separation from him allowed us to recognize that we’ve strayed off course, and it provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge our defeat. I have many mixed feelings about it, but one strong emotion is certainly relief.
To make things clear, since we’re on the internet, I want to stress that the ultimate choice and accountability for cancelling “Earthblade” lies solely with me and Noel. If you were looking forward to “Earthblade” and feel upset about its cancellation, please remember that Pedro and the Neverway team are not the antagonists in this situation. Anyone who directs hostility towards them unjustly is not suitable for any [Extremely OK Games] community.
What Next
After experiencing some shake-ups, both Noel and I have decided to move forward with new projects. We’re taking the valuable insights we gained from Earthblade and starting fresh. Our goal is to refocus on smaller-scale endeavors, much like how we initially approached Celeste and TowerFall. We’re diving back into prototyping at our own pace, aiming to rediscover the excitement of game development similar to its early stages in those projects. Of course, we hope to collaborate with Amora, Kyle, Chevy, Lena, and Power-Up Audio again in the future. However, expanding the core team post-Celeste didn’t work out as planned, but that’s alright. We gave our best, learned from the experience, and are now excited to reconnect with our roots and find joy in our creative process once more.
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2025-01-23 02:01