Moving on from CELESTE and why cancelling EARTHBLADE felt right

About this episode

Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry discuss the impact of CELESTE and the decision to cancel EARTHBLADE.

Seven years on, CELESTE 's impact is still felt on the gaming world. A hard but fair 2D platformer with a heartfelt story about self-acceptance, it's a game that lives on in the hearts of many. Viewed by LGBTQIA+ players as a relatable trans allegory, Celeste also represents a deeply personal journey for its creators. Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry of Extremely OK Games spoke to Sifter where that journey took them, exploring identity, the struggles of cancelling an eagerly awaited follow-up game, and the joy of hardcore platforming. Hear from Maddy and Noel on Lightmap, SIFTER's interview podcast, before they appear at an exclusive event at ACMI on the 6th of October 2025 . Tickets for the event are available online . ‍ Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings ‍ Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll…

People in this episode

Host: Sifter

Guests: Maddy Thorson, Noel Berry

Topics covered

• game development
• cancellation
• LGBTQIA+ representation
• platforming games
• personal journey

Keywords

• CELESTE
• EARTHBLADE
• Maddy Thorson
• Noel Berry
• Extremely OK Games
• LGBTQIA+
• platformer
• game cancellation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Extremely OK Games

Books & works: CELESTE, EARTHBLADE

Places: ACMI

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