
Key Takeaways: The Quick Answer
- Soulstice 2 is dead: Reply Game Studios officially canceled the sequel amidst ongoing global industry layoffs.
- Devs speak out: Game designer Samuele Chionetti confirmed the project’s fate via his personal LinkedIn account.
- A massive pivot: Former developers formed Nara Studio and successfully funded their new monster-taming game, Wonderful Neoran Valley, in under ten minutes.
The End of the “Italian Devil May Cry”
The brutal reality of the current gaming industry has claimed another victim. Fans hoping for a follow-up to the surprise hit actiongame Soulstice are out of luck.
According to a recent LinkedIn post by game designer Samuele Chionetti, Soulstice 2 has been completely scrapped by Reply Game Studios.
Chionetti pointed on LinkedIn, directly to the ongoing global layoffs and severe industry crisis as the primary reasons behind the project’s sudden death.
A Bitter Pill for Character Action Fans
The original game earned a solid reputation as a highly stylized, competent alternative to heavyweights like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta.
It featured a unique dual-character combat system focusing on sisters Briar and Lute. The abrupt cancellation leaves massive untapped potential and unresolved narrative threads on the cutting room floor.
Rising from the Ashes: Nara Studio’s Massive Pivot
Despite the heartbreaking news, the development team isn’t throwing in the towel. Chionetti and several former colleagues have regrouped to form a brand-new indie team—Nara Studio.
They have completely shifted gears from dark fantasy hack-and-slash to something entirely different. Teaming up with content creator Francesco “Cydonia” Cilurzo, they recently launched a brand-new Kickstarter campaign.
The new project is Wonderful Neoran Valley, a highly anticipated monster tamer experience inspired by Pokémon. The pivot paid off immediately, with the community rallying behind the fresh studio.
— Wonderful Neoran Valley (@NeoranValley) February 27, 2026
Silver Linings in a Tough Industry
The Kickstarter campaign for Wonderful Neoran Valley was an undeniable success. Historically, indie campaigns struggle to gain traction, but this project hit its core funding goal in under ten minutes.
“It’s beautiful to see all this light in such a dark period,” Chionetti shared, expressing deep gratitude for the immediate community support and his dedicated colleagues.
While the loss of Soulstice 2 stings for action purists, the rapid success of Nara Studio proves that top-tier talent will always find a way to survive—and thrive—in this volatile market.
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