Extremely OK Games halts development of anticipated Earthblade project

Extremely OK Games, the studio behind the acclaimed platformer Celeste, has officially announced the cancellation of its upcoming title Earthblade. The project, which was first revealed in 2021, faced multiple delays and internal challenges before the studio made the decision to end its development.

The development team had initially targeted completion by the end of 2022 with a planned 2023 release. Throughout the development cycle, the studio maintained transparency about their struggles with workload management and technical difficulties, which their community largely supported with understanding.

In a blog post dated January 22, studio creator Maddy Thorson revealed that the decision to cancel Earthblade was made in December 2024. The announcement was delayed until the new year to allow for proper timing. The cancellation followed internal disagreements over Celeste IP rights, which resulted in the departure of one founding studio member. While the project had already experienced setbacks pushing it beyond 2024, this organizational change appears to have been a decisive factor in its termination.

Extremely OK Games shifts focus to smaller projects

Thorson explained that the departure of a key team member prompted the studio to reevaluate Earthblade’s development trajectory. The team concluded that the project’s slow progress and emotional toll no longer justified its continuation. Looking ahead, the studio plans to redirect its efforts toward smaller-scale projects, drawing inspiration from their approach to successful titles like Celeste and Towerfall.

While Extremely OK Games begins its creative reset after Earthblade’s cancellation, it joins other recent industry adjustments, such as Reflector’s decision to halt franchise plans following Unknown 9: Awakening’s market performance.