Moon Studios, the creative force behind Ori and the Will of the Wisps, has announced that the official launch of its upcoming action‑RPG, No Rest for the Wicked, will now take place in March 2027. The title entered early‑access in April 2024 with an original full‑release target of October 2026, but the developers have decided to extend the timeline in order to meet the high bar they set for themselves. As of July 2026, No Rest for the Wicked has already moved more than two million copies, a strong indicator of the community’s enthusiasm.
Yet despite those impressive sales figures, Moon Studios says the game is only "close" to the level of polish required for a 1.0 launch, and they are unwilling to settle for anything less than perfection. "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 studio wrote in a statement. "The extra time will help us improve performance, tighten the class system, and polish the whole game to the standard you all deserve. We'd rather take a few more months than ship something that we know isn't quite perfect yet." The announcement also outlines a series of upcoming beta opportunities.
An open beta is slated for December 2026, giving players a chance to dive into the evolving build and provide direct feedback. Those who buy No Rest for the Wicked before January 1 2027 will be granted a "Founders Pack" containing exclusive in‑game rewards as a thank‑you for supporting the project during its early‑access phase.
PlayStation pre‑orders will open in January 2027, allowing console fans to secure the same founder benefits. Studio founder Thomas Mahler elaborated on the decision during a YouTube update. He described the development cycle as a "mad dash" to integrate additional content, finalize the class system, and bring all the planned 1.0 features together. "We've been playtesting a lot, and the truth is simply that we're not quite there yet," Mahler admitted.
Mahler traced the project's origins back to 2016, when the first prototypes of No Rest for the Wicked were sketched out. "Given 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," he explained.
The metaphor underscores the studio's desire to avoid a rushed release that could mar the player experience. The developers emphasize that the delay is not a setback but an investment in quality. They envision No Rest for the Wicked as a "generational" title—one that stands out in the crowded RPG market and is remembered for its depth, craftsmanship, and lasting appeal.
By extending the schedule, Moon Studios hopes to deliver a product that lives up to that ambition. From a technical standpoint, the additional months will be used to address performance bottlenecks on both PC and console platforms. Early‑access feedback has highlighted occasional frame‑rate dips and load‑time spikes in more demanding environments.
The team plans to fine‑tune engine optimizations, streamline asset streaming, and ensure that the game runs smoothly at its target 60 fps on next‑gen hardware while still being accessible on older systems. The class system—a central pillar of the game's design—will also receive a thorough overhaul. Players can currently choose from several archetypes, each with unique abilities and skill trees. Moon Studios intends to deepen the synergy between classes, add more branching paths, and introduce hidden subclasses that unlock as players progress.
This expansion aims to increase replay value and encourage experimentation. Community involvement will remain a cornerstone of the development process. In addition to the open beta, the studio promises a series of closed‑beta sessions that will focus on specific aspects such as combat balance, narrative pacing, and world‑building.
Participants will receive direct channels to submit bug reports and design suggestions, ensuring that the final build reflects the collective input of its most dedicated fans. The decision to push the launch into 2027 also aligns with the studio's broader roadmap. Moon Studios has hinted at future downloadable content and post‑launch expansions that will build upon the core story. By delivering a polished base game first, they aim to provide a solid foundation for these subsequent updates, avoiding the pitfalls of fragmented or incomplete releases.
In summary, Moon Studios' postponement of No Rest for the Wicked to March 2027 is driven by a commitment to excellence. The team acknowledges that while the game is "close" to completion, "close" does not satisfy their standards for a full launch.
The extra development window will be used to enhance performance, refine the class system, and incorporate extensive community feedback through additional beta testing. Early supporters will be rewarded with a Founders Pack, and PlayStation users will gain access to pre‑order incentives in January 2027. With these measures in place, Moon Studios aims to deliver a title that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of players, cementing No Rest for the Wicked as a standout entry in the action‑RPG genre.