Their JRPG tripled its funding with a successful Kickstarter, and now the game is dead, and they won’t refund the money. Studio Camelia has announced its closure and the farewell to ALZARA: Radiant Echoes, and those who trusted it are very angry.

What looked like a textbook crowdfunding victory has morphed into a bitter cautionary tale. ALZARA: Radiant Echoes, the indie JRPG that inspired thousands of retro RPG fans—and even roped in Dark Souls composer Motoi Sakuraba—has been axed, leaving supporters fuming and empty-handed. The project, which smashed its initial funding target by over three times, is officially canceled, and refunds are off the table.

Back in 2024, the ALZARA Kickstarter was hailed as a triumph, amassing more than €294,000 from over 5,000 hopeful backers. The original goal was set at €100,000, and the campaign’s meteoric rise was seen as a huge show of faith, especially with names like Golden Sun and Dark Souls composer Motoi Sakuraba on board.

The Studio Is Gone, ALZARA: Radiant Echoes Is Dead, and No One Gets Their Money Back

But on June 17, Studio Camelia officially announced its shutdown and the end of ALZARA: Radiant Echoes, offering no refunds. Despite hitting all stretch goals and even showcasing a playable demo at events like Tokyo Game Show, the devs were unable to secure the next wave of funding from outside investors. “The industry is in crisis, and risks are no longer taken as they used to be,” they said in their statement, blaming the difficult economy for the collapse.

Backers quickly erupted with frustration. Even though crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter don’t guarantee a finished product, many players feel outright scammed. The number one complaint isn’t the lost cash (which is, sadly, common), but the lack of transparency: most had no idea they were merely funding a demo to attract investors, not the whole game.

The campaign’s “Risks and Challenges” section promised careful planning and solid backing, which only makes the fallout sting more. “Where does the risk end and the scam begin?” one comment reads. Others are demanding more transparency and even calling for Kickstarter to investigate. The comments have become a minefield of complaints, outrage, and even threats of legal action.

For now, ALZARA: Radiant Echoes is gone for good. Since the studio has been in liquidation since April, and with little chance of a third party picking up development, it’s highly unlikely anything resembling the original pitch will ever surface.

Source: 3djuegos