Dead Cells is truly a phenomenal game, a masterpiece of mechanical precision and captivating environmental storytelling that has won over players worldwide. It’s not just considered one of the best roguelikes; it stands among the best PC games, period. With millions of players and an impressive 97% positive rating on Steam, it received years of post-launch DLC. However, last year, its ongoing development ceased. We recently spoke with two developers from Motion Twin to understand why the studio chose to step away from such a beloved title.
“We are still very, very proud of the project,” says Gwen Massé, an artist and level designer, reflecting on Dead Cells. “And still very amazed about the reception of the game, even in 2025.” Dead Cells hit at the ideal moment for an indie game in the mid-2010s. Smaller titles were flourishing, pixel art was trendy, and innovative developers were pushing the boundaries of the roguelike genre with every new release.
Motion Twin remained dedicated to the game long after its initial launch, consistently releasing updates and substantial DLC to maintain player engagement. These weren’t minor additions; they were significant enhancements that profoundly affected the gameplay, level design, and the overall Dead Cells experience. Yet, this era of continuous development eventually came to an end.
In early 2019, approximately a year after its full release, Motion Twin transitioned the ongoing development of Dead Cells to Evil Empire, a new studio founded by several former Motion Twin team members. Evil Empire continued to deliver excellent updates until 2024, when Motion Twin directed them to stop further support for Dead Cells.
This decision was met with significant backlash from the roguelike community, with many perceiving it as a cynical maneuver designed to boost Motion Twin’s new game, Windblown, which is currently in early access.
However, Massé and her colleague Yannick Berthier, co-creative director and game designer for Windblown, assert that ending Dead Cells’ updates was, in fact, the right choice.
“We felt it was a good decision to halt updates for Dead Cells because it genuinely felt like the end of an era for the game,” Massé elaborates. “For both us and the players, it was beneficial to finalize the game as we initially envisioned it. Now, our entire focus, 100%, is on Windblown.”
Berthier joined Motion Twin after Dead Cells had already launched, yet he fully grasps the game’s profound importance to both the studio and its fanbase. He attributes the game’s explosive success, achieving ten million sales, to paving the way for the team’s expansion and ultimately creating the very role he now holds.
“Our studio as a whole has been incredibly fortunate because of that project,” Berthier remarks about the hit roguelike. He describes it as every indie developer’s dream: a phenomenally successful debut (while Motion Twin had made browser games since 2001, Dead Cells was their first title on Steam and consoles) that liberates them to pursue creative endeavors without immense pressure or financial constraints in the future.
“Most importantly,” he adds, “it propelled the studio far beyond its previous capabilities, enabling us to now develop projects that are quite ambitious, even from a technical standpoint.”
Windblown is indeed a technically ambitious game. Integrating co-op functionality into a fast-paced roguelike is a significant challenge, but there’s much more to this game than just multiplayer. Early access feedback has been promising, though whether Windblown can replicate Dead Cells’ immense success remains to be seen. Motion Twin strongly believes that ending development on their previous hit will improve Windblown’s prospects.
This announcement is unlikely to appease disappointed fans, particularly since a separate development team was handling Dead Cells’ ongoing updates. Motion Twin is clearly banking on emerging from the shadow of Dead Cells, but they’ll need to win over players with Windblown for their new venture to truly succeed.
Windblown is currently available in early access.
If you’re searching for more games as challenging as Dead Cells, consider exploring other top roguelikes or soulslike titles. Additionally, Dead Cells is an excellent choice for portable gaming on devices like the Steam Deck.
What are your thoughts on Dead Cells’ future? Share your opinions and predictions for the next indie hits. Keep an eye out for further insights from our discussion with Motion Twin.