Moon Studios, the creative force behind the acclaimed Ori series, has announced that the full 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 set for October 2026.
By July 2026 the game had already moved two million copies, a strong indicator of community interest and support. In a statement, the studio clarified that while the project is "close" to a finished product, the team does not consider "close" sufficient for the definitive 1.0 version they intend to ship. "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 commitment to quality, the developers argue, justifies the additional months needed to fine‑tune the experience. The extra development window will be used for several key improvements. First, performance optimization will be a priority, ensuring that the game runs smoothly across all supported platforms, from high‑end PCs to current‑generation consoles. Second, the class system—a central pillar of the game's design—will be tightened and balanced, addressing feedback gathered during the early‑access period.
Finally, a broad polish pass will address visual fidelity, audio cues, and user interface consistency, delivering the level of polish that fans expect from a Moon Studios title. Moon Studios also emphasized that the delay will enable more extensive beta testing. "It also means more closed and open beta tests in the coming months, which means you, our community, can get your hands on it and help us shape the final 1.0 build," the statement said.
An open beta is slated for December 2026, giving players a chance to experience new content, report bugs, and influence the final balance of the game. Those who purchase No Rest for the Wicked before January 1, 2027, will be rewarded with a special Founders Pack, a token of appreciation for early supporters. PlayStation enthusiasts will be able to pre‑order the game starting in January 2027, granting them access to the same Founders Pack rewards. This aligns the console launch with the overall release schedule and ensures that console players receive parity with PC early‑access participants.
The announcement was accompanied by a video on YouTube featuring studio founder Thomas Mahler. In the interview, Mahler described the development period as a "mad dash" to incorporate additional content, finalize the class system, and integrate all features intended for the 1.0 launch. He noted that extensive playtesting revealed that the game was still missing the final polish needed for a launch of this magnitude.
Mahler reflected on the project's history, recalling that the first prototypes of No Rest for the Wicked date back to 2016. Over the past decade, the team has iterated on the core mechanics, narrative arcs, and artistic direction, gradually shaping the ambitious vision into a cohesive whole.
"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 explained. He stressed that the goal is not merely to release a game, but to deliver an experience that feels "generational"—a title that stands out as a milestone in the industry, the kind of game that appears only once in a long while.
This aspiration drives the studio's insistence on delaying the launch rather than compromising on quality. The decision to push the release date has been met with mixed reactions from the community. Many fans appreciate the transparency and share the studio's desire for a polished final product, while some express frustration over the extended wait. Nonetheless, the two‑million‑copy milestone demonstrates a solid base of eager players who are likely to remain supportive throughout the additional development period.
In summary, Moon Studios' postponement of No Rest for the Wicked to March 2027 reflects a deliberate choice to prioritize performance, balance, and overall polish over meeting an earlier deadline. The upcoming beta windows, Founders Pack incentives, and continued communication from the development team aim to keep the community engaged and invested as the final stages of production unfold. The studio's commitment to delivering a game that meets its high standards suggests that the extra time will result in a title that lives up to the lofty expectations set by its predecessors and the industry at large.