Xbox Might Miss Out On Ori Developers’ New Game

Known primarily for their creation, Ori, Moon Studios is venturing into more somber subjects with the top-down action role-playing game titled “No Rest for the Wicked“. This game promises challenging combat and intricately crafted environments.

Right now, the game is available in an early version for computers (PC), with a full launch planned on PlayStation 5. However, it’s yet to be determined when it will come out on Xbox.

As a die-hard gaming enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly anticipating No Rest for the Wicked, but here’s the thing: despite the studio’s past collaborations with Microsoft, there’s a possibility that this game might not drop on Xbox at launch. In fact, it could potentially miss the boat entirely unless some significant adjustments occur backstage.

What Makes PS5 the Safer Bet?

As a dedicated gamer, I couldn’t help but ponder when Thomas Mahler, the big boss at Moon Studios, admitted openly that their future platform choices are shaped by the ongoing “market circumstances.” It got me thinking about what these circumstances might mean for my favorite games.

On Discord and later in X, Mahler expressed his viewpoint that, considering businesses, the PlayStation 5 currently offers the optimal platform.

The PS5 has many more players and sells games better, so it makes sense to launch there first.

It’s possible they might launch a new version of the Switch given its impressive performance thus far. The Xbox, while not leading at the moment, could potentially be looked into as well in the future.

Is This Really About Hardware Limitations?

Despite this, it’s important to note that the issue isn’t solely related to technology. The game is constructed using Unity and is designed to run on hardware that is less advanced than the Xbox Series S.

If the game is capable of running on the next-gen Nintendo Switch (Switch 2), it might be feasible for it to also run on an Xbox. However, Mahler posits that porting the game over to Xbox would necessitate a more substantial effort than the potential rewards justify at this time.

The problem lies not with the actual hardware, but rather the amount of work required for certification, optimization, and meeting platform standards. This work is worthwhile only for a small studio if the rewards are certain, and Game Pass provides that assurance.

More and more developers are expressing worry that Xbox gamers tend to opt for subscriptions rather than purchasing games directly because Microsoft has aggressively promoted its subscription service. Consequently, a game not included in Game Pass typically doesn’t perform well on the platform.

Developing software for Xbox without a deal might appear to an independent developer as spending resources without a certain return on investment. This risk is significantly higher for teams that lack financial reserves to compensate for poor sales performance.

Is There Bad Blood Between Moon Studios and Microsoft?

Originally, Ori was well-known as a key partner for independent game development on Xbox. However, some time ago, there were allegations of issues and disputes in the workplace that involved Mahler.

Despite no direct mentions, these underlying tensions might be shaping the present reluctance.

It’s said that Microsoft ended its partnership with Moon Studios following the Ori series, causing the studio to collaborate with a different publisher for No Rest for the Wicked. Unfortunately, this new publisher eventually closed down.

Eventually, it’s looking likely that No Rest for the Wicked will be available on Xbox, but fans should not anticipate its release on launch day.

The studio is considering resuming discussions with Microsoft to determine if it’s both financially viable and technically feasible to transfer the game over.

For now, it’s expected that the PS5, Steam, and potentially the Switch 2 will garner the majority of interest, given their stronger sales figures and fewer problems.

Stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com: the best site for No Rest for the Wicked coverage.

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2025-07-22 09:42