Celeste Creators’ Ambitious Metroidvania Game Canceled: Development Woes Explorer

Earthblade: The Canceled Game That Was Supposed to Be the Next Celeste
[Image: Key art shows the main character of Earthblade.]
Remember when the creators of Celeste announced their next game, Earthblade? It was supposed to be a stylish noir-punk side-scroller with guns, and we were all excited to dive back into the world of challenging platforming. Unfortunately, Earthblade is no more.
In a statement, designer Maddy Thorson revealed that the game was quietly canceled last month due to a falling out between some of the team members and the realization that the game’s protracted development had become a real slog. The team had been working on Earthblade since 2021, and it was originally set to release in 2023 before being delayed to 2024.
The Fallout
So, what happened? According to Thorson, the team experienced a falling out with pixel artist Pedro Medeiros, whose visual style defined the aesthetic of the game, over a dispute related to IP rights for Celeste. "We eventually reached a resolution, but both parties also agreed in the end that we should go our separate ways," Thorson wrote. Medeiros is now working on his own game, Neverway, which Thorson recommends checking out.
The Pressure to Deliver
Thorson also pulled back the curtain on the difficulties the team faced during Earthblade’s development. "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," Thorson wrote. "Pedro isn’t to blame for this – in fact, the split with him has given us the clarity to see that we have lost our way, and the opportunity to admit defeat. I feel many ways about it, but one big feeling is undoubtedly relief."
What’s Next?
For now, Thorson and Celeste co-creator Noel Berry are back to prototyping new potential projects, while the rest of the team has moved on. The dream of Earthblade might be dead, but the minds behind it aren’t done making games. Who knows what’s next for Extremely OK Games? Only time will tell.
Key Takeaways:
- Earthblade, the next game from the creators of Celeste, has been canceled due to a falling out between team members and the realization that the game’s development had become a slog.
- The team experienced a dispute with pixel artist Pedro Medeiros over IP rights for Celeste.
- The pressure to deliver a bigger and better game after Celeste’s success contributed to the team’s exhaustion and ultimately, the cancellation of Earthblade.
- Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry are now working on new projects, while the rest of the team has moved on.