It’s always a bittersweet moment when the developers of a beloved game announce that the journey is over. For fans of Dead Cells, one of the most influential roguelikes of the last decade, that moment came earlier this year. Now, the original developers at Motion Twin have opened up about why they decided to walk away from their masterpiece, calling it “a good thing” and the “end of an era.”
However, the story behind the scenes is far more complex and controversial than a simple creative choice. It involves a second studio, a canceled roadmap, and a debate about what it means to be the “true” developers of a game that evolved so much after its launch.
The Official Line: A Creative Choice
In a recent interview, members of the Motion Twin team explained that after over five years of updates and more than 10 million copies sold, they felt Dead Cells was complete. Artist Gwen Massé stated, “We felt that it was a good thing to stop updates for the game because we felt that we were at the end of an era.” The team felt they had created the game they originally envisioned and that it was time to focus 100% on their ambitious new project, Windblown.
From their perspective, the massive success of Dead Cells was a blessing that gave them the creative and financial freedom to grow. They’ve gone from a small team making browser games to a studio that can now tackle bigger, more technically ambitious projects without pressure.
The Controversy: A Tale of Two Studios
Here’s where the story gets complicated. While Motion Twin created Dead Cells, they handed off post-launch development to Evil Empire, a separate studio formed by former Motion Twin staff, back in 2019. For five years, it was Evil Empire that kept the game alive with a steady stream of excellent updates and DLC, including the fan-favorite “Return to Castlevania.”
The decision to end development wasn’t mutual. Evil Empire had a content roadmap planned through at least 2024, but Motion Twin, as the IP holder, made the call to pull the plug. This led to significant backlash from the community and even from some of the original creators. Sébastien Benard, the lead designer on the original Dead Cells, famously called the move “the worst imaginable a**hole move” and a “logical marketing stunt” to eliminate any distraction from Windblown.
Many in the community see Evil Empire as the “true” Dead Cells team for the latter part of its life, and feel that Motion Twin’s decision to shut down their work was disrespectful to both the developers and the loyal player base.
What’s Next? Riding the Wind with ‘Windblown’
With the Dead Cells chapter officially closed, Motion Twin is pouring all its energy into Windblown. Their next game is a lightning-fast co-op action roguelike that is currently in Early Access on Steam. While it’s a new IP, it carries the DNA of Dead Cells, with a focus on fluid combat and challenging gameplay.
The studio is banking on players being excited for something new, but they are also keenly aware that they are stepping out from under the massive shadow of their most famous creation. Whether Windblown can capture the same magic remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Motion Twin is ready for a fresh start.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did Motion Twin stop updates for Dead Cells?
- The official reason is that they felt the game had reached its creative conclusion and they wanted to focus entirely on their new game, Windblown.
- What was the controversy surrounding the decision?
- Motion Twin ended development against the wishes of Evil Empire, the studio that had been successfully managing the game’s post-launch content for five years and had more updates planned.
- Who is Evil Empire?
- Evil Empire is a separate development studio, spun off from Motion Twin, that was responsible for all Dead Cells updates and DLC from 2019 until development was halted in 2024.
- What is Windblown?
- Windblown is the new co-op action roguelike from Motion Twin. It is currently available in Early Access on Steam.
- Is Dead Cells still worth playing?
- Absolutely. Even without future updates, Dead Cells is a complete and feature-rich game with an enormous amount of content, thanks to years of excellent support.
- How successful was Dead Cells?
- The game has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful indie games of all time.
Conclusion
The end of the Dead Cells saga is a messy one, with no clear heroes or villains. On one hand, Motion Twin has every right to control the future of its own creation and pursue new projects. On the other, the way they ended the game’s development left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans and the developers at Evil Empire who had carried the torch for so long. It’s a complicated legacy for a game that, by all accounts, is a modern masterpiece. While we say a final, fond farewell to the Beheaded, all eyes are now on Windblown to see what new worlds Motion Twin will create.