Former lead designer on Dead Cells, Sébastien Bénard, has expressed his discontent with Motion Twin and Evil Empire’s recent announcement to cease creative work on the immensely popular indie roguelike. Bénard, who left Motion Twin to establish Deepnight Games in 2020, took to his official website to share his thoughts on the game. His initial reaction on the official Dead Cells Discord server was admittedly spontaneous and passionate, labeling Motion Twin’s decision as the “worst imaginable a**hole move against Dead Cells and Evil Empire.” In his blog post, Bénard begins by apologizing for his impulsive statement, acknowledging that his choice of words was regrettable. However, he delves into his relationship with Motion Twin, shedding light on the company’s past decisions and the impact they have had on the game and its community.
Bénard reflects on Motion Twin’s approach to game development, particularly during their time creating numerous Browser/Flash games. He reveals that the company’s strategy involved releasing a game, providing minimal updates, and ultimately moving on to new projects. This information, although not classified, is often disregarded by players who joined the community during the era preceding Dead Cells. Bénard himself acknowledges his disillusionment with this approach, recognizing the lack of attention given to the loyal players who had supported their previous web-based games. Even after four years and countless requests from dedicated fans, Motion Twin failed to respond to their pleas for the source code of these discontinued games. This history of neglect, in Bénard’s opinion, has transcended into the company’s treatment of Dead Cells.
Significant changes have occurred within Motion Twin since the launch of Dead Cells, as stated by Bénard. Today, only three individuals from the original Dead Cells team remain at Motion Twin, with one staff member joining recently and another primarily focused on administrative tasks. Bénard believes that the real driving force behind the continued success of Dead Cells lies with Evil Empire, who has passionately carried the torch for the franchise. It is worth noting that Bénard himself initially harbored doubts when the decision was made to entrust the game to Evil Empire. He credits Motion Twin with securing the initial success, responsible for approximately one million units sold, but recognizes that Evil Empire spearheaded the subsequent nine million in sales. Despite this, Bénard asserts that Motion Twin was uncomfortable with the growing recognition of Evil Empire as the true authors of Dead Cells.
Attempting to understand Motion Twin’s perspective, Bénard suggests that their decision to end creative work on Dead Cells and shift focus to their upcoming game, Windblown, can be viewed as a calculated marketing strategy. By creating space for their new release, Motion Twin hopes to generate buzz and excitement. However, Bénard criticizes this as a one-sided strategy that leaves behind both loyal players and employees at Evil Empire. He laments the pattern of Motion Twin prioritizing their own aspirations at the expense of others, suggesting that this behavior is not a new development. Despite grasping the commercial tactics at play, Bénard expresses disappointment in the fallout experienced by the Dead Cells community and the dedicated individuals involved.
While Bénard vents his frustrations with the conclusion of Dead Cells’ creative development, he acknowledges the game’s extraordinary success over the past five years. Celebrating this triumph is essential, albeit with an awareness that all good things eventually come to an end. Prior to the recent announcement, Motion Twin had assured GamesIndustry.biz in June 2023 that Dead Cells “isn’t going anywhere,” promising a content roadmap up until the end of 2024. Although the release date for Update 35 has yet to be disclosed, Motion Twin intends to continue addressing bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements even after the final content update. As such, while the end of an era may be upon us, the legacy and impact of Dead Cells will persist in the gaming landscape.
Bénard’s grievances shed light on the internal dynamics of Motion Twin and their interaction with the Dead Cells community. The decision to end creative work on Dead Cells appears to be a culmination of years of dissatisfaction and neglect. Despite Motion Twin’s successful marketing strategy, the fallout of their actions highlights the importance of considering the impact on loyal players and dedicated employees. As Dead Cells moves towards its final chapter, it is vital to recognize and celebrate its achievements while also examining the lessons learned for the future of indie game development.
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