Engaging developments have unfolded within the gaming industry as Extremely OK Games, the renowned developer of 2018’s celebrated platformer Celeste, has officially called off their upcoming game-project, known as Earthblade. This news follows a conflict within the team that proved insurmountable, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the much-anticipated title.
In 2018, gamers worldwide embraced the beautiful, challenging, and touching adventure that was Celeste, earning it a firm place in home consoles everywhere. Extremely OK Games, marking their spot in the platform genre with this widely appreciated addition, eventually declared they were brewing a fresh project. Referred to as Earthblade, this new venture was described as an “explor-action” game.
Graphics of Earthblade hinted towards a mysterious, yet attractive, appearance – a style that reminded enthusiastic followers of games like Hollow Knight. The game offered a tantalising glimpse into what seemed to be a richly textured, atmospheric gaming world. Unfortunately, these snippets will be the only impressions fans will gather of Earthblade, as the developers at Extremely OK Games have called a halt on the project’s production.
The cessation of production is a result of an internal clash in relation to the intellectual property rights of the hit game Celeste. While the issue was finally settled, the conflict generated significant discord among the team. This division was so impactful it ultimately led to a regrettable separation within the group.
The developers share more about the painful aftermath:
“An internal rupture happened within our team earlier this year. This was mainly between Pedro and us – Noel and I. Pedro, a founding member of EXOK, also a longtime friend and colleague, was the art director of Earthblade and contributed as the pixel/ui artist on both Celeste and TowerFall. This dispute was about the intellectual property rights of Celeste. We won’t disclose the specifics of this sensitive case publicly. It was, undeniably, a challenging and heartbreaking journey. The disagreement was eventually solved, but it was apparent that it had strained our relationship beyond repair and it was best for us to part ways.”
At this critical juncture, Pedro’s departure was not the sole instigator in the decision to cancel the developing game Earthblade. However, it surely triggered a thorough self-reflection within the team about whether the effort to see Earthblade through to completion was the right course to take.
Despite the creative chaos within the team, Earthblade showed promise; but unfortunately, the game’s advancement lagged behind the expected rate owing to the unending production period. There’s no denying that, had the team decided to weather the storm and persist with the project, Earthblade had the potential to be a remarkable game.
The future for Extremely OK Games is shrouded in uncertainty, but it’s invariably disappointing to witness the unfortunate curve in the road for the once promising Earthblade. Still, gamers will anxiously wait for more news about the team’s future prospects, continually rooting for their determination to keep innovating within this industry.
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