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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Heart Machine, which previously released the critically acclaimed Hyper Light Drifter in 2016 and the Annapurna-published Solar Ash in 2021, released Hyper Light Breaker on Steam Early Access back in January.

The game is a prequel to Hyper Light Drifter, but rather than an overhead pixel art action adventure game it's a third-person polygonal one (much like the difference between 2D and 3D Zelda games).

User reviews for the game have been mixed during its Early Access phase, with 67% of the 2,580 reviews it's received to date being marked as Positive on Steam's digital storefront.

Now the studio has confirmed the Game Developer that the Early Access period is ending for Hyper Light Breaker after around nine months, with development on the game coming to an end.

Heart Machine also stated that it will be laying off staff as a result of the game's development ending, though it hasn't confirmed exactly how many will be affected.

"As we wrap up our work on Hyper Light Breaker, we've had to make the difficult decision to part ways with a number of talented team members," a statement reads. "This was not our ideal path, but rather the only one available given the circumstances," reads a statement.

"While this path will include a conclusion on the project, it reflects broader forces beyond our control, including shifts in funding, corporate consolidation and the uncertain environment many small studios like us are navigating today."

The studio laid off some of its staff last November, but said at the time that it hoped the "strong and timely" release of Hyper Light Breaker could "rekindle opportunities" for those who were let go.

Hyper Light Breaker was originally planned to hit Early Access in 2023, but a number of delays saw this being pushed back by two years.

Development ends on Hyper Light Breaker as studio Heart Machine says it’s making layoffs | VGC

The Hyper Light Drifter prequel has had mixed reviews while in Early Access…

www.videogameschronicle.com

 

[Mister Wolf]

They were dumb for not making a TRUE sequel to Hyper Light Drifter.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

IMO this game was DOA from the announcement. Such a strange pivot after really great Hyper Light Drifter.

 

[Griffon]

Another Sweet Baby game bites the dust.

 

[Achelexus]

Weird wording. The game is concluding development, not being cancelled. That being said, the first game was pretty mediocre IMO and made by idiots. So I'm skipping on this one.

 

[Punished Miku]

They were dumb for not making a TRUE sequel to Hyper Light Drifter.

They were dumb for not making it a true sequel to Solar Ash. That's what I thought it was going to be, and then all the previews said it had major issues and was a multiplayer game which is just an odd choice. Solar Ash is by far their best game and this is clearly built on the bones of it.

 

[00_Zer0]

Another Sweet Baby game bites the dust.

 

[Jaybe]

Oh no, anyway

 

[John Bilbo]

They fucked up.

 

[BigBeauford]

Fuck, how did a temu Risk of Rain 2 with furries fail?!

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

I'm not going to buy any game in the nonbinary color scheme. Let alone working with sweet baby.

 

[Fake]

Sweet Baby is on fire.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Hyper Light Drifter was such a good videogame, wonder what happened internally at the studio for their following games to be so mid in comparison.

 

[Mikado]

Huh. Maybe they were relying on a funding source that dried up?

 

[Mister Wolf]

Hyper Light Drifter was such a good videogame, wonder what happened internally at the studio for their following games to be so mid in comparison.

They wanted to fly too close to the sun and try other new game formulas before even elaborating on the sucessful formula they created with HLD. It would akin to From Software making Demon Souls and ditching the successful formula because they wanted to try new things, never bothering to make Dark Souls.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Hyper Light Drifter was such a good videogame, wonder what happened internally at the studio for their following games to be so mid in comparison.

I checked it out today and it's not for sale anymore. Solar Ash has a huge discount.

Are they closing shop?

 

[touchfuzzy]

I checked it out today and it's not for sale anymore. Solar Ash has a huge discount.

Are they closing shop?

No.

In fact, they have another game coming out in November that actually looks pretty good. At least better than whatever they were trying to do with Breaker.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

I don't understand what people saw in Hyper Light Drifter, actually thought it was a poor game. The controls were terrible and I didn't think the other aspects of it were particularly special to make it stand out. But it always sucks to see what happens to teams like these, not being able to complete their vision and possibly finished in the industry for good.