Studio Camelia shuts down, ALZARA: Radiant Echoes on “indefinite pause”

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The creative studio, Studio Camelia, has closed down and the project ALZARA: Radiant Echoes has been put on hold indefinitely. This decision came after the team failed to find an industry partner, despite a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised approximately €300,000. However, those who backed the project through Kickstarter will not receive refunds, as announced by the developers.

Here is the full message from Studio Camelia on its closure:

Hello everyone,

I’m heartbroken to share this news with you all – our dear Studio Camelia is closing its doors. This decision hasn’t been easy, but I felt it was important for me to explain the circumstances that led us here, as well as provide some insights into the Kickstarter campaign and what lies ahead.

Thank you for your unwavering support and understanding during this difficult time.

How We Got Here

Established Studio Camelia out of our passion for Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs), aiming to infuse a unique viewpoint into this genre while preserving the core qualities that define JRPGs. Our team, composed of experienced industry professionals, developed ALZARA, a Mediterranean-themed JRPG, drawing inspiration from games such as Golden Sun and Final Fantasy X. This game features dynamic turn-based combat and emphasizes the theme of unity.

The studio was established in May 2022, but its roots go back nearly four years. Since day one, we’ve been relentlessly working to realize our dream, always on the lookout for funding. We kick-started the studio with our own savings and succeeded in gaining the trust of business angels, banks, and institutions who shared our vision and provided us with support. We were also privileged to be chosen for Microsoft’s Developer Acceleration Program.

Despite having half the game development already funded by our support, we were still in need of an industry partner to cover the remaining half. Unfortunately, the video game industry is experiencing a tough time right now, with numerous studios shutting down due to financial difficulties and over 20,000 employees losing their jobs. This has made investors more cautious, as they are less inclined to take risks and prefer to wait before investing in a project to minimize potential losses.

As a dedicated gamer and the heart behind our groundbreaking project ALZARA, we knew we had to take a strategic move to ensure its success. So, we decided to share our vision on Kickstarter, aiming to lower the perceived risk for potential partners and demonstrate the project’s potential profitability. To our delight, the campaign was nothing short of phenomenal! ALZARA soared as one of the most backed Gaming projects on Kickstarter in 2024, boasting over 5,000 backers and a whopping €296,876 in pledges. I can’t thank you enough for your unwavering support! It was an exhilarating journey that we will never forget.

In our efforts, we utilized the triumph to create an updated version of the game, encompassing recent advancements in ALZARA technology. We participated in numerous international events such as the Tokyo Game Show and DICE, aiming to connect with potential global collaborators. However, after extensive talks earlier this year, no agreements were reached, despite our readiness – complete with a playable demo, an experienced team, half of the required funding secured, and a successfully launched Kickstarter campaign. We exerted every resource at our disposal and persevered as long as possible.

In the tough world of our industry, we’re artists who require financial support to continue our work. Despite possessing innovative game ideas that have demonstrated potential and attractiveness in the market, as well as a dedicated team, we often find ourselves in situations where funding remains elusive. It’s been said that every game that gets released is nothing short of a miracle, and that sentiment rings especially true for us.

Is There a Chance ALZARA Will Continue?

As a devoted fan, I’m compelled to share some news that might impact us all: On April 28th, it was officially announced that the studio is facing liquidation. At present, numerous legal proceedings are ongoing, which will likely continue for some time. Unfortunately, due to the sensitive nature of these proceedings, specific details cannot be disclosed at this moment. However, rest assured that they are related to the liquidation process of a company.

The game “ALZARA: Radiant Echoes” has been temporarily halted with no definite resumption. However, there’s a small possibility that another party could potentially assume control of the project in the future. If this occurs, the game’s development might veer away from the paths outlined during the campaign, but with hopes that it will improve!

About the Kickstarter

You’re aware that supporting a Kickstarter campaign involves certain risks: The primary purpose of this platform is to empower creators by helping them launch their projects. However, it doesn’t ensure the eventual commercialization of the project, so there’s always the possibility that it might not materialize as planned.

Unfortunately, neither the studio nor Kickstarter can return your donation towards the project, and we deeply apologize for this inconvenience. If you have further questions, please refer to the FAQ section on Kickstarter for more details.

A Bit of ALZARA

At the end of this report, we’d like to give you a peek at some portions of the demo we showed to our associates, highlighting recent advancements in the game development. Regrettably, due to copyright issues, we can’t make the demo available to the public, and the company’s dissolution means we can’t distribute any game materials either. However, these are fragments from an unfinished game, which would have been refined further during production.

The End

I appreciate you giving your attention to this entire message. Should you have any queries, we’ll do our utmost to provide clear responses, considering the information we’re permitted to disclose.

It’s clear that you must be feeling quite disheartened upon reading this. Rest assured, we feel your pain too. The thought of this project not coming to fruition fills us with regret. We were passionately involved in the realm of ALZARA, its characters, and its narrative. There’s nothing we would have relished more than joining you in celebrating its launch.

With heartfelt gratitude, we express our sincere thanks for standing with us since the beginning. Your faith in our venture has been unwavering, and we appreciate it deeply. We are also incredibly grateful for the warmth and motivation shown by our community. Thank you all.

With all our hearts,
The Studio Camelia Team

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2025-06-17 16:46