A studio reached out to fans in 2024 to fund their new JRPG. However, despite the required amount being not only reached but even exceeded, there is now bad news for the paying players: the game will not be released on Steam or anywhere else.
What game is it? Alzara Radiant Echoes by Studio Camelia was presented on Kickstarter last year. It was supposed to be a turn-based JRPG in the style of older titles – a love letter to the golden age of the genre.
Over 5,000 users took an interest in the project and supported it with a total of €294,428. And this, even though the target goal was only €100,000. Enough money to develop, complete, and release the game. Among other things, it was supposed to be released for consoles and PC. The Steam page is still online as of 18.06.2025.
Unfortunately, Alzara Radiant Echoes will never be released on any platform. The developers announced on June 17, 2025, on Kickstarter that the project has been canceled and the studio has been closed.
The Reasons for the Closure
What are the reasons for the update? Studio Camelia emphasizes how sad they are about the news. They had already worked hard on the shared vision of creating their own game even before the studio was founded in 2022.
Private funds were used for this, and additional partners were found. Among other things, the studio was part of the Microsoft Developer Acceleration Program – an initiative aimed at supporting small and new developers.
With that, and of course thanks to the funds from Kickstarter, a part of the game was completed. Studio Camelia mentions in their statement a demo that they wanted to use to win additional partners at various events such as the Tokyo Game Show.
This endeavor was supposed to ensure that the rest of the game could also be successfully financed and developed. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Studio Camelia regrets this and sees it as the harsh reality of the gaming industry in 2025.
In a time when many studios are closing and numerous employees are being laid off, it is difficult to find risk-taking investors. For fans who have already invested money in the game, there is another piece of bad news from the studio:
As you know, supporting a Kickstarter project comes with risks: the actual idea of the platform is to give creators a boost so they can bring their projects to life. There is no guarantee for the final marketing of the project, and therefore there is always a risk that it will not materialize. Neither the studio nor Kickstarter is able to refund your contribution to the project, and we are truly sorry about that.
Studio Camelia in a statement on Kickstarter
This, coupled with the fact that Alzara Radiant Echoes will not be released, is causing unrest in the community.
Disappointed Fans and Accusations of Fraud
What do the supporters think? The sentiment in the comments on Kickstarter is predominantly negative. It is especially criticized that a full game was promised, and there was no mention of just developing a demo with the money. Some suspect it smells like fraud:
- “I understand that we are all angry. I agree that I believe it is a fraud. I was even curious why the project was so quiet for half the time. But I know a simple way to prove it was not fraud: Why don’t you allow the studio heads to present some documentation about where the money went?” writes Shane Hirt.
- “Another fraud, thank you Kickstarter for not protecting us, collecting your profits, and allowing tons of ‘companies’ to defraud people,” writes Gabriel Queipo.
- “You have not once stated that it is a Kickstarter to fund a demo. You explained that it is to fund the actual game. People are right to call you all frauds,” concludes Drago Zero Nova.
The anger of the paying fans is understandable. Alzara Radiant Echoes will not be released and many Kickstarter users have to come to terms with not getting their invested money back. Time and again, games have to face accusations of fraud. A very well-known case occurred in 2023: The creators of ‘The Day Before’ respond to the accusation that their game is just a scam
