Studio Camelia shuts down a year after raising €300,000 on Kickstarter to fund JRPG

Alzara Radiant Echoes developer Studio Camelia has closed its doors just one year after raising almost €300,000 ($347,000) through Kickstarter to finance the JRPG.

The French studio broke the news in an update to backers and explained it has been unable to secure the necessary funding to keep the project afloat.

That’s despite Alzara Radiant Echoes becoming one of the most-backed video game projects on Kickstarter last year, with the title raising nearly €300,000 in pledges from over 5,000 backers.

Studio Camelia said its founding team established the studio in 2022 with their personal savings and initially managed to convince business angels, banks, and institutions to offer support.

“We had half the development of the game covered, and only needed to secure the other half through an industry partner. However, as you know, the video game industry is currently going through a crisis,” it explained.

“Many studios have been forced to close due to lack of funding, and over 20,000 workers have lost their jobs. Investors are now operating in a market where taking risks is discouraged, and they can afford to wait before committing to a project in order to reduce risk.

“To give ourselves the best possible chance of securing funding, we turned to Kickstarter to reduce the perceived risk for some partners and reassure them of the project’s profitability.”

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“This is part of the harsh reality of the industry”

Although the Kickstarter campaign was a success—Studio Camellia had initially sought to raise €100,000 but breezed past that milestone—the studio struggled to secure additional funds during subsequent meetings with potential partners at Tokyo Game Show, DICE, and other industry events. 

“We had in-depth discussions earlier this year, but unfortunately, none of them resulted in a contract, despite having a playable demo, a senior team, half of the funding secured, and the Kickstarter campaign. We spared no effort and tried to hold on as long as we could,” continues the update.

“This is part of the harsh reality of the industry. We are creatives, but we need funding to keep creating. Sometimes, even having a promising game concept with proven market interest and a strong team is not enough. Many say that every released game is a miracle, and that couldn’t be more true.”

The studio entered liquidation on April 28, 2025, and is currently in the process of winding down.

Alzara Radiant Echoes has been placed on “indefinite pause” and will likely never make it to market unless a third-party decides to revive the project.

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Those who backed the project through Kickstarter, including a handful of people who dropped €800 on a premium pledge, will be unable to claim a refund from the studio or Kickstarter.