Ivy Road, the Studio Behind Wanderstop, Announces Its Closure

Ivy Road, the acclaimed studio responsible for the unique game Wanderstop, has officially announced its impending closure.

The studio, co-founded by Davey Wreden (known for his work on The Stanley Parable and The Beginner's Guide), released its inaugural game last year. In a recent statement, the team explained: "Although we had an exciting new project, Engine Angel, which we were very enthusiastic about, regrettably we couldn't secure the necessary funding, and as a result, the studio must close."

Engine Angel, which unfortunately never progressed beyond the prototyping phase, was envisioned as an exciting blend of hack-and-slash action and extreme sports arcade, featuring a car that delivers punches. The project was spearheaded by animator Liz Caingcoy, known for her contributions to games like Team Fortress 2 and Deadlock. While a video showcasing the project was circulated, the studio cautioned that knowing this promising concept won't materialize (at least for now) can be quite disheartening.

The statement further elaborated on the challenges faced: "Securing funding for games is particularly challenging right now, so while it wasn't entirely unexpected, it was still disappointing not to be able to bring Engine Angel to life as a team. Liz's concept is incredible, and we truly hope it finds its way to fruition someday."

Ivy Road's closure takes effect tomorrow, March 31st. However, it appears Wanderstop's journey isn't entirely over. The studio teased: "There's one last surprise in the works, something we've been developing over the past year to help Wanderstop reach new players." Annapurna Interactive is set to unveil this "final surprise," though a specific date has not been announced.

Finally, the studio shared a cheat code to access Wanderstop's chapter selection, allowing players to revisit specific moments without replaying the entire game. From the title screen, players can input the following D-pad presses: Up, Left, Down, Right, Up, B (or right-click), Up, Right, Down, Left, Up, B (or right-click), Up, Down, Up. It would certainly be convenient to have a game manual to jot down such a combination for future reference.

The news of the studio's closure carries the same serene, thoughtful quality that Wanderstop itself evokes. Released in 2025, Wanderstop was one of the year's most memorable and distinctive titles. Its premise – managing a peaceful tea shop to escape the noise and fury of a warrior's life – leaves a lasting impression. As one reviewer noted, the game achieves its excellence through "the relationships with other characters," which is where it truly "earns its place in our hearts."

It is in that pause after reading Boro reflect on why we truly do things, it is in the pain of a certain mischievous child, or in the unyielding enthusiasm of a father dedicated to winning his son's affection, where we find the deepest moments of connection with the game. It helps that the writing is so intelligent, at times reminiscent of Terry Pratchett's style and his unique Discworld, with its sharp wit, fitting humor, and an admirable way of critiquing certain conventions of our world through fantasy.