An unannounced game from Heart Machine recently lost publisher support, leading the studio to lay off nearly all of its employees. CEO Alx Preston stated that it is currently uncertain whether Heart Machine can survive.
Preston revealed on social media that the unannounced title was originally funded by a publisher, but the partner decided this week not to proceed with the project. As this project was Heart Machine's primary source of income, the termination of the partnership has left the studio unable to retain most of its development staff.
Preston stated that, aside from this critical source of income, the studio currently has no other projects or funds to quickly fill the gap, forcing them to lay off "almost everyone." He described the situation as devastating, while also noting that the team will still try to find a way forward.
Heart Machine gained attention with the 2016 release of Hyper Light Drifter, followed by the action-platformer Solar Ash in 2021. In 2025, the studio returned to the Hyper Light Drifter universe with Hyper Light Breaker, adopting roguelike gameplay for the new title.
Hyper Light Breaker failed to achieve the results the studio needed. After entering Early Access, it struggled to attract sufficient attention, and Heart Machine canceled further development less than a year after its launch. With funding for an unannounced project now lost as well, it remains unclear whether the studio can continue operations.