Motion Twin, the developer of Dead Cells, chose not to create a sequel and instead focused on developing a new game, Windblown, driven by their creative passions rather than external pressure or business considerations, highlighting their unique cooperative structure and commitment to innovation.
The next game in the Prince of Persia series, titled The Rogue Prince of Persia, is set to be developed by Dead Cells studio Evil Empire and will launch in Early Access on May 14, 2024. The game will feature a stylish new art direction and gameplay, blending 2D platformer elements with metroidvania and roguelite features. The announcement follows rumors of the game's existence, with the official reveal coming at the end of the Triple-i Initiative Showcase. While the release date for the full version is yet to be announced, the game is set to enter Early Access on Steam next month.
Ubisoft has announced a new Prince of Persia game, "The Rogue Prince of Persia," developed in collaboration with Evil Empire, the studio behind Dead Cells. Set for release on Steam early access on May 14, the game is a sidescrolling roguelite featuring the iconic Prince of Persia moveset and Persian-inspired biomes. Players can expect a variety of weapons and gameplay experiences, with plans for updates based on early access feedback.
The first Triple-i Initiative showcase featured over 30 announcements, including the reveal of Slay the Spire 2, a free update for Risk of Rain 2, and new games like Dinolords, Vampire Survivors, Never Alone 2, Darkest Dungeon 2, Palworld arena mode, and Cataclismo. Additionally, a new indie Prince of Persia game called The Rogue Prince of Persia was announced by the Dead Cells team.
A group of indie game studios, including those behind Dead Cells, Darkest Dungeon, and Slay the Spire, have teamed up for a 45-minute "no-nonsense" digital showcase called the Triple-i Initiative, set to air on April 10th. The event promises major announcements and reveals from over 30 games, with a focus on delivering game news directly to players without any extra fluff.
The developers of Dead Cells, Darkest Dungeon, and Slay The Spire are launching the Triple-I Initiative, a new indie game showcase aimed at highlighting fan-favorite games and new IPs, addressing the challenge of finding an audience in the crowded gaming landscape. The inaugural showcase, scheduled for April 10th, will feature trailers, reveals, and surprise game or demo releases from renowned indie studios, with a focus on providing a platform for smaller teams and addressing the issue of discoverability on platforms like Steam.
The original Dead Cells designer criticizes Motion Twin for abandoning the game to focus on their new title, Windblown, calling it a "greedy" and "one-way strategy" that leaves loyal players and employees at Evil Empire behind. The decision to cancel all upcoming updates for Dead Cells has sparked controversy, with the former lead designer expressing disappointment and alleging that the move is to make room for Windblown. Motion Twin has yet to respond to the criticism.
Former lead designer Sébastien Benard claims that Motion Twin's decision to abruptly end Dead Cells' development was a strategic marketing move to make room for their new game, Windblown. Benard criticized the decision as a "greedy" and "logical marketing stunt" to promote the upcoming action roguelite. Most of the original Dead Cells developers had either left or were not working on Windblown, leading Benard to believe that the cancellation was a deliberate strategy to shift focus to the new game.
Former Dead Cells lead designer Sébastien Benard criticizes Motion Twin's decision to end Dead Cells updates, calling it a "marketing stunt" to make way for Windblown, Motion Twin's upcoming game. Benard feels this decision betrays the game's community and the current development team, Evil Empire. He apologizes for his "blunt words" but emphasizes the significant work done by Evil Empire in keeping the game fresh and alive. He speculates that Motion Twin's decision may be driven by a desire to maintain control over the Dead Cells legacy and create space for Windblown.
Sébastien Bénard, former lead designer of Dead Cells, expresses dissatisfaction with Motion Twin's decision to end creative work on the game, citing an abrupt and one-way strategy that leaves loyal players and employees behind. He acknowledges the success of the game and the involvement of Evil Empire in its continued development, while also highlighting his disillusionment with Motion Twin's development cycle. Bénard's frustration with the conclusion of Dead Cells' creative development is apparent, as he questions the decision and the impact on loyal players and employees.
Former Dead Cells lead designer Sébastien Benard criticizes Motion Twin's decision to end development on the game, calling it "the worst imaginable a**hole move" against its co-developer Evil Empire. Benard, who left Motion Twin and formed Deepnight Games, also comments on the situation behind his departure and expresses support for Evil Empire's future projects. Motion Twin and Evil Empire have both released statements regarding the end of Dead Cells development, with Evil Empire shifting focus to new games.
Dead Cells developers Motion Twin are preparing to release the final update, Update 35: 'The End Is Near', as they shift focus to new projects. The update marks the end of their creative journey with the game, following a successful run of seven years and four major DLC expansions. The current custodians, Evil Empire, are also moving on to new "secret projects", with Motion Twin working on their new action roguelike Windblown. The developers are committed to keeping Dead Cells fresh and original, and are actively addressing bug fixes and quality of life issues.
Motion Twin and Evil Empire have announced the end of further development for Dead Cells, with the 35th update being the final one for the popular 2D roguelike. Both studios will now focus on new projects, including an animated series set in the Dead Cells world. Despite the end of active development, Evil Empire will continue to support Dead Cells through 2025.
Evil Empire and Motion Twin have announced that they will no longer be working on Dead Cells after the upcoming Update 35, marking the end of their creative journey with the game. Evil Empire is moving on to new projects, while Motion Twin plans to continue addressing quality of life issues and bugs in Dead Cells. The developers express gratitude to the game's community and tease upcoming projects, including an animated series and a board game. Update 35 is still pending release for consoles and PC, with the possibility of new achievements.
After seven years since its early access release and five years under the development of Evil Empire, Dead Cells is ending its active development with the upcoming update 35. Evil Empire will no longer be working on the game, freeing up its developers for new projects, while Motion Twin, the original developers, will leave the game as-is after the update. Both studios have exciting new projects in the pipeline, with Motion Twin announcing a new game called Windblown and plans for Dead Cells-related content outside of the game itself.