Hyper Light Breaker, 3D prequel to action-RPG Hyper Light Drifter, won’t make it out of early access. Developers Heart Machine have announced that its development is ending, with an unspecified number of layoffs at the studio having been announced at the same time.
It’s a depressingly rapid downward trajectory for the follow-up to a game which generally received strong and positive reception, tempered by some criticism of elements such as how it handled communicating the best way to keep making forward progress.
It’s always tough to hear about a game’s development coming to an end, especially one with such a dedicated following. Heart Machine’s work has been appreciated by many, and it’s sad to see the team face layoffs. Wishing everyone involved the best in their future endeavors.
It really is difficult to see projects like this get cut short, especially when they have so much potential. Hyper Light Breaker had a unique art style and gameplay mechanics that fans were excited about. It’s a reminder of how unpredictable the gaming industry can be.
I completely agree, it’s always tough to witness the potential of a game go unrealized. It’s interesting to think about how the unique art style and gameplay mechanics from Hyper Light Drifter could have evolved in this prequel. Hopefully, the team can find new opportunities to channel their creativity in the future!
It’s interesting how some games can create such high expectations but still face challenges during development. Hopefully, the team can take the lessons learned from Hyper Light Breaker into their future projects. It’s always a bittersweet moment in the gaming community when this happens.