Moon Studios, the creative force behind 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 initial full‑release window set for October 2026. By July 2026 the game had already moved two million copies, a strong indicator of community enthusiasm. In a statement released by the studio, the developers described the project as "close" to its final 1.0 state, yet they were quick to stress that "close isn’t good enough for our full 1.0 launch." The team explained that, as a relatively small studio, they hold their creations to a level of polish and performance that they are unwilling to compromise.
"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 statement read. "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." To keep the community engaged during the extended development window, Moon Studios promised additional closed and open beta sessions in the coming months. These tests will give players the opportunity to dive deeper into the evolving world, provide feedback, and directly influence the final build.
The open beta is slated for December, offering a broader audience a chance to experience the game before the official launch. Early supporters who purchase No Rest for the Wicked before January 1 2027 will be rewarded with a "Founders Pack" that includes exclusive in‑game items and other bonuses as a thank‑you for backing the project during its early‑access phase. PlayStation users will be able to pre‑order the title starting in January 2027, and those pre‑orders will also qualify for the same Founder’s Pack rewards.
In a separate video posted to YouTube, studio founder Thomas Mahler gave further insight into the delay. He described the development period as a "mad dash" to integrate additional content, finalize the class system, and ensure that every 1.0 feature was fully functional. Mahler emphasized that extensive play‑testing has revealed that the game is still not at the level they envisioned. "We’ve been playtesting a lot, and the truth is simply that we’re not quite there yet," Mahler said.
"We’ve been working on the first prototypes of No Rest for the Wicked all the way back in 2016, and 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." Mahler also highlighted the studio’s ambition to deliver a "generational" experience—one of those rare titles that defines a period in gaming history. He explained that the additional months will allow the team to fine‑tune performance across platforms, refine the combat and class mechanics, and add the final polish that will make the world feel truly alive. The delay has been met with a mixture of disappointment and understanding from the fanbase.
While some players were eager for the October 2026 launch, many echoed Moon Studios’ sentiment that a polished, bug‑free experience outweighs a rushed release. Community forums have already begun speculating about the new content that might be added during the extended development cycle, ranging from expanded lore entries to new enemy types and optional side quests.
From a business perspective, the decision to push the launch to March 2027 aligns with the studio’s long‑term strategy of building a lasting franchise. By ensuring that the first full version of No Rest for the Wicked meets the high expectations set by previous Moon Studios titles, the company hopes to secure a loyal player base that will support future expansions, DLC, and possibly sequels. In summary, Moon Studios is opting for quality over speed. The game is still on track for a 2027 release, with a clear roadmap that includes additional beta testing, community involvement, and a suite of rewards for early adopters.
The studio’s commitment to delivering a polished, performance‑optimized, and content‑rich experience reflects its dedication to the standards that have made its previous games beloved by critics and players alike.