Moon Studios, the creative force behind the beloved Ori series, 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 originally entered early access in April 2024, with a full 1.0 release slated for October 2026. However, the studio has decided to grant itself additional development time in order to meet the exacting standards it has set for the final product. As of July 2026, No Rest for the Wicked has already moved more than two million copies in early access, a testament to the strong community interest and the reputation Moon Studios has built over the years.
Despite these impressive sales figures, the developers have been candid about the state of the game. In a recent statement they described the build as "close" to a finished 1.0 version, but quickly added that "close isn’t good enough for our full launch." The team emphasized that they are a relatively small studio and that they refuse to compromise on the level of polish, performance, and overall experience they promise to players. "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." The announcement also outlined a roadmap for the remaining months leading up to the new launch date. An open beta is scheduled for December 2026, giving the community a chance to dive deeper into the world, test new mechanics, and provide feedback that will directly influence the final build. In addition, the studio plans to run several closed beta sessions throughout the spring, allowing dedicated fans to help shape balance, class interactions, and overall gameplay flow.
Players who purchase No Rest for the Wicked before January 1, 2027 will be eligible for a special "Founders Pack" that includes exclusive cosmetic items, early‑access content, and other in‑game rewards as a thank‑you for supporting the project during its early‑access phase. PlayStation users will be able to pre‑order the game starting in January 2027, and those pre‑orders will also grant access to the Founders Pack, ensuring that console players receive the same benefits as their PC counterparts. In a separate video posted to the studio’s YouTube channel, founder Thomas Mahler offered further insight into the decision to delay. Mahler described the development period as a "mad dash" to integrate additional content, finalize the class system, and lock in all the features intended for the 1.0 release.
He explained that extensive play‑testing revealed a number of areas that still needed refinement, and that the team felt it would be irresponsible to ship a product that still contained noticeable bugs or unfinished systems. "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 touched on the studio’s broader vision for the game. He described No Rest for the Wicked as an attempt to create a "generational" experience—one of those rare titles that defines a genre and resonates with players for years to come.
To achieve that ambition, the team is focusing on several key pillars: * **Performance Optimization:** Ensuring smooth frame rates across all supported platforms, reducing load times, and minimizing technical hiccups that could detract from immersion. * **Class System Refinement:** The game features a deep, multi‑class system that allows players to customize their abilities. The studio is fine‑tuning balance, skill trees, and synergy between classes to provide meaningful choices. * **World Polish:** From environmental storytelling to enemy AI, every facet of the game's world is being revisited to guarantee a cohesive and engaging experience.
* **Bug Squashing:** A rigorous QA process is in place to identify and eliminate any lingering glitches, crashes, or visual artifacts. The decision to delay has been met with a mixture of understanding and disappointment among fans. Many appreciate Moon Studios’ transparency and dedication to quality, while others are eager to get their hands on the full experience as soon as possible. Nonetheless, the studio’s track record of delivering critically acclaimed, visually stunning games has helped maintain confidence that the extra months will be well spent.
Looking ahead, Moon Studios has promised regular updates on development progress, including developer diaries, livestream Q&A sessions, and community polls. By keeping the dialogue open, they hope to involve the player base in the final polishing stages and ensure that the eventual launch lives up to the high expectations set by the early‑access community.
In summary, No Rest for the Wicked will now launch in March 2027 after an extended development window aimed at perfecting performance, tightening the class system, and delivering a polished, bug‑free experience. Early supporters who buy the game before the start of 2027 will receive a Founders Pack, while an open beta in December 2026 will allow fans to contribute feedback that shapes the final product. Moon Studios remains committed to releasing a title that not only meets but exceeds the lofty standards it has set for itself, aspiring to create a memorable, genre‑defining adventure that will be remembered for years to come.