Summary
Earthblade, the next project from the team behind the indie darlingCeleste, has been delayed. The highly anticipated title was first unveiled to the public in early 2021.
Much like the previous work of the talented folks over at Extremely OK Games,Earthbladeis a 2D platformer with a pixel art style. UnlikeCeleste, however, the Canadian studio’s next release is a Metroidvania that will provide players with a lot of opportunities to explore. Fans of the sub-genre will unfortunately have to wait longer before they can get their hands onEarthblade, as Extremely OK Games has just revealed that the title has been delayed.
Earthbladewill not launch in 2024, Extremely OK Games announced. The company had hoped to announce a firm release date for the upcoming title around this time, but that is unlikely to happen anymore, according to founder and director Madeline Thorson. Extremely OK Games encountered setbacks while working onEarthblade, according to Thorson, whose previous project,Celeste, is widely considered to be one of thebest indie platformers of all time.
Extremely OK Games did note that it was still making progress onEarthblade, adding that the team members still believed in the project and in each other despite the setbacks. The studio also revealed that it has been joined by veteran indie game developer Kyle Pulver, who has provided the company with some big ideas and identified problems that preventedEarthbladefrom living up to Extremely OK Games' vision.
Earthblade Release Date Has Been Delayed
Thorson revealed that her studio added Pulver into its ranks following the realization that she had become a bottleneck. The Extremely OK Games founder said she struggled to keep up with her workload and provide a strong direction for the team while navigating all the challenges of her personal life. The reaction toward the announcement ofEarthblade’s delay was mostly positive, with many fans expressing their gratitude for being provided with an update on the game. Others also told Extremely OK Games, which released a free 3D spin-off platformer in January tocelebrateCeleste’s 6th anniversary, to take its time to completeEarthblade.
Aside fromEarthblade, a number of games have been delayed within the first months of 2024. One title that had its release postponed wasHomeworld 3, the next entry in the legendaryHomeworldsci-fi RTS franchise. Developer Blackbird Interactive decided todelay the launch ofHomeworld 3to May 2024so that it could make tweaks that would make the game meet the studio’s standards.
Celeste
WHERE TO PLAY
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight, hand-crafted platformer from the creators of multiplayer classic TowerFall.A narrative-driven, single-player adventure like mom used to make, with a charming cast of characters and a touching story of self-discoveryA massive mountain teeming with 700+ screens of hardcore platforming challenges and devious secrets.Brutal B-side chapters to unlock, built for only the bravest mountaineersIGF “Excellence in Audio” finalist, with over 2 hours of original music led by dazzling live piano and catchy synth beats.The controls are simple and accessible - simply jump, air-dash, and climb - but with layers of expressive depth to master, where every death is a lesson. Lightning-fast respawns keep you climbing as you uncover the mysteries of the mountain and brave its many perils.
