Dead Cells Devs Give Update on the Game’s Future

The development studios behind hit roguelike Dead Cells have announced that they will be stepping back from further post-launch updates for the game. In the years since its release, Dead Cells received multiple updates and add-ons, keeping the game in players’ minds on their playlists long after they had exhausted the original game’s content.

Dead Cells first launched in 2018 on PC after spending time in Steam’s Early Access program, while developer Motion Twin refined its action platformer gameplay. When it was released fully on PC and later on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and mobile platforms, Dead Cells quickly rocketed up lists of the best action roguelike games around. The game has also received several paid and free expansions since 2018, both from the direct involvement of the original team at Motion Twin, and co-developed by its spin-off studio, Evil Empire.

Dead Cells Developer Ends Post-Release Support for the Game

Motion Twin announced on the official Dead Cells Steam page that the current update for the game on PC and consoles, Update 35, would be the last one. The same will be true of the mobile editions of Dead Cells, though those versions are still waiting for Update 34, which is scheduled for release in 2024. In its announcement, Motion Twin thanked the game’s millions of players for their enthusiasm and support, and promised that fans would have ways to enjoy Dead Cells outside the game. The announcement referred to the ongoing production of a Dead Cells animated series, the creation of a board game adaptation, and more. Motion Twin even hinted that the Beheaded, Dead Cells’ player character, will cross over with some other piece of media in the future. Motion Twin said it is looking into solutions to handle issues like bug fixes and other issues across all platforms, as it works on its current project, called Windblown.

Evil Empire, co-developer of Dead Cells since 2019, confirmed Motion Twin’s announcement, as well. It released its own statement on the matter via its official Twitter account. Evil Empire thanked the Dead Cells community for its support and feedback, and thanked Motion Twin for “trusting [Evil Empire] with their baby for so long.” Evil Empire was founded in 2019 to help develop add-ons for Dead Cells such as the Return to Castlevania DLC after the core group at Motion Twin chose to focus on new projects. With the end of post-release support for Dead Cells, Evil Empire will be working on new, unannounced original titles.

The story of Dead Cells and its remarkable longevity is a unique one. While an indie game created by a small team finding success isn’t an unusual occurrence, Motion Twin’s decision to spin off an entirely new studio to keep up support for Dead Cells as it focused on new projects is. The new additions and updates, particularly crossovers like Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania, also kept the game in the public eye for much longer than it would’ve otherwise and further cementing its place as a classic of the genre.

Dead Cells

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Motion Twin’s roguelite Dead Cells is an old-school-style platformer game ideal for Metroidvania fans. As players progress through Dead Cells’ multitude of non-linear levels and areas, they can level and upgrade their character through new abilities and weapons, as well as spice up their gameplay with spells. Combat remains challenging, with five Souls-level difficulty bosses.

Released

August 7, 2018

Developer(s)

Motion Twin

Publisher(s)

Motion Twin

Genre(s)

Roguelike

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Language, Violence