Summary
FormerDead Cellslead designer, Sébastien Benard, strongly criticized Motion Twin’s decision to leave the game behind. The development studio behind the roguelikeDead Cellsrecently announced its decision to cease future updates for the game, surprising some fans, along with one of its former co-creators.
Dead Cellsis an action-platformer video gamecharacterized by its roguelike elements and Metroidvania-style exploration. Developed by Motion Twin and released in 2018, players navigate through procedurally generated levels, battling enemies, acquiring upgrades, and unlocking new abilities with each run. The game’s fast-paced combat, fluid movement, and challenging difficulty have made it a standout title in the indie gaming scene.
FormerDead Cellslead designer Sébastien Benard took to the game’s Discord to heavily criticizeMotion Twin’s decision to stop updatingDead Cells. Benard condemned the studio’s actions as the worst imaginable move againstDead Cellsand Evil Empire. He shed light on undisclosed tensions and disagreements brewing behind the scenes, painting a picture of a studio driven by greed and disregard for its loyal player base. “I never imagined my former coop studio would turn out to be such greedy people,” Benard stated.
Why Did Motion Twin Decide to Stop Producing New Updates?
When Motion Twin issued the statement declaring that Update 35 would mark the conclusion of their creative journey withDead Cells, the developer cited a commitment to avoiding creative stagnation and the risk of diluting the game’s unique charm as primary motivations behind the decision. The developer also mentioned that Evil Empire will be pursuing new adventures. However, Motion Twin promised to continue finding solutions to ensure that all future quality-of-life issues and bugs are addressed on every platform where the game runs.
I never imagined my former coop studio would turn out to be such greedy people.
Following his initial criticism, Sébastien Benard acknowledged in ablog postthe impulsiveness of his words. However, he maintained his stance, suggesting that Motion Twin’s decision might be a strategic move to make way for their upcoming title,Windblown. Benard speculated on the studio’s motivations, implying a disregard for both loyal players and employees at Evil Empire who worked hard to createone of the best indie roguelike games. According to Benard, this was all he had to say, and he was closing the topic after this blog post.
As theDead Cellscommunity grapples with the implications of Motion Twin’s decision, the game’s future seems somewhat uncertain. However, players might still enjoyDead Cellsbeyond the game with the ongoing production of theDead Cellsanimated series.
Dead Cells
WHERE TO PLAY
Dead Cells puts you in control of a failed alchemic experiment trying to figure out what’s happening on a sprawling, ever-changing and seemingly cursed Island. Tough but fair combat, responsive controls, challenging foes, permadeath and of course, the emergency panic roll to get you out of trouble, make for a demanding, visceral and cathartic action game.Experience a Roguevania, mixing an interconnected world, branching paths and unlockable skills with the constant adrenaline-pumping threat of permadeath. No checkpoints. You either vanquish the final boss in one go, or you try again. However, you keep some of your progress for successive runs; new paths you’ve unlocked, access to new levels, mutations, abilities and weapons.Speaking of weapons, Dead Cells features a plethora of ways to slay your enemies. A large variety of swords, bows and of course spells, but also whips, grenades and turrets, each one with its own unique twist. Plus, mutations and scrolls allow you to build and customize your character differently with each and every run.At the end of the day though, it’s YOUR skills as a player that matter most! Roguelites are about constantly sharpening your skills, until what was an insurmountable obstacle becomes a walk in the park. Patience, you’ll get better!… eventually.
