Heart Machine, the independent developer behind Hyper Light Drifter, may be forced to close after a publisher withdrew from an unannounced project. The decision has left the studio without a crucial source of funding and resulted in almost its entire remaining team losing their jobs.
Studio head Alx Preston wrote on LinkedIn on 16 September that the cancelled publishing arrangement had been supporting development. With no immediate replacement funding or other prospects available, Heart Machine had to make widespread redundancies.
Heart Machine’s survival is uncertain
Preston said the affected staff would receive as much assistance as possible, including help finding new positions. He also invited employers with suitable roles to contact the studio so it could connect them with its former team members.
“I’m not yet certain what form Heart Machine can take, or whether it can continue at all,” Preston said, describing the current games industry as increasingly difficult to navigate. He added that the studio would continue looking for a way forward.
The latest cuts follow earlier layoffs that began in late 2025. A brief attempt to support the business through Patreon also ended earlier this year.
From Hyper Light Drifter to an uncertain next chapter
Released in 2016, Hyper Light Drifter attracted strong support through its pixel-art presentation, atmospheric top-down world, environmental storytelling and prominent soundtrack. Heart Machine followed it with Solar Ash, a more ambitious 3D action game built around fast platforming and a similarly distinctive mood.
The studio’s later releases proved more difficult. The 2024 loot-focused roguelite action RPG Hyper Light Breaker failed to make the same impact and gradually lost momentum during Early Access. In 2025, Possessor(s) attempted a side-scrolling Metroidvania format, but its awkward controls and hurried feel drew criticism.
Heart Machine’s situation reflects the wider pressure facing independent developers and publishers. For more coverage of games and industry developments, visit RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog, or explore the practical side of bringing gaming into an Australian home with our Arcade Machine Buying Guide.
Players interested in building a dedicated setup can also browse arcade cabinets or consider a hands-on DIY arcade kit.
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