Moon Studios, the creative force behind the beloved Ori and the Will of the Wisps, has announced that the full launch of its upcoming action‑RPG, No Rest for the Wicked, will be delayed until March 2027. The title entered early access in April 2024, with an original full‑release target set for October 2026. As of July 2026, the game has already moved two million copies, a strong indicator of community interest and anticipation. In a statement released by the studio, the team described the project as "close" to completion, yet they emphasized that "close" does not satisfy the high bar they have set for the final 1.0 version.
"The honest truth is that we're a small team, and we're holding our games to a standard we won't compromise on," the announcement read. This candid admission underscores Moon Studios' commitment to delivering a polished, performance‑optimized experience rather than rushing a product to market. The additional development window will be used to fine‑tune several core aspects of the game. Specifically, the studio plans to improve overall performance, tighten the intricacies of the class system, and apply a thorough polish across all systems to meet the expectations of their fan base.
"We'd rather take a few more months than ship something that we know isn't quite perfect yet," the developers said, highlighting their preference for quality over speed. One of the benefits of the extended timeline is the opportunity for more extensive beta testing. Moon Studios announced that both closed and open beta phases will continue throughout the coming months, giving players the chance to experience the game early and provide valuable feedback that will shape the final build.
The open beta is slated for December, allowing a broad swath of the community to dive in and help refine gameplay mechanics, balance issues, and any lingering technical glitches. To reward early supporters, the studio introduced a "Founders Pack" incentive. Anyone who purchases No Rest for the Wicked before January 1, 2027, will receive exclusive Founders Pack rewards as a token of appreciation for backing the project during its early‑access period.
PlayStation users will also be able to pre‑order the game starting in January 2027, ensuring they can claim the same set of rewards on that platform. In a separate video posted to YouTube, studio founder Thomas Mahler provided further insight into the decision to delay. Mahler explained that the team has been in a "mad dash" to integrate additional content, finalize the class system, and incorporate all the features originally planned for the 1.0 launch. "We've been playtesting a lot, and the truth is simply that we're not quite there yet," Mahler admitted.
He reflected on the project's long development history, noting that the first prototypes of No Rest for the Wicked date back to 2016. "Given that we're in the last couple of months, we would just like to take that extra time to make sure that we land this plane safely and that we don't ship with any silly little bugs left," Mahler said. Mahler also emphasized the studio's ambition to create a "generational" title—one that stands out as a landmark experience in the industry.
"We want everybody to have a wonderful experience and ship something that is one of those generational games that only comes out every so often," he concluded. This vision aligns with Moon Studios' reputation for crafting visually striking, emotionally resonant platformers, and it suggests that No Rest for the Wicked aims to push the boundaries of the action‑RPG genre.
The delay, while disappointing to some eager fans, reflects a broader trend in the industry where developers prioritize long‑term reputation and player satisfaction over meeting arbitrary deadlines. By extending the timeline, Moon Studios hopes to deliver a product that lives up to the lofty expectations set by its previous successes and the strong community support demonstrated by the two‑million copies already sold.
In summary, No Rest for the Wicked will now launch in March 2027 after an extended period of polishing, performance optimization, and community‑driven testing. Early adopters will benefit from exclusive Founders Pack rewards, and PlayStation users can look forward to pre‑order opportunities in early 2027. The studio's transparent communication and dedication to quality suggest that the final product will be a refined, immersive experience worthy of the hype surrounding it.