Moon Studios, the creative force behind the beloved 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 initial plan to ship the polished 1.0 version in October 2026. As of July 2026, the game has already moved two million copies, a strong indicator of community enthusiasm.
In a candid statement, the studio explained that while the project is "close" to being finished, the team refuses to settle for anything less than a truly complete experience. "Close isn't good enough for our full 1.0 launch," the developers wrote, emphasizing their commitment to a level of quality they feel cannot be compromised. The announcement highlighted several practical reasons for the delay. First, the extra months will allow Moon Studios to fine‑tune performance across all platforms, ensuring smoother frame rates and quicker load times.
Second, the class system—a core gameplay mechanic that lets players customize their abilities—will receive additional balancing and depth. Finally, the overall polish—ranging from visual fidelity to sound design and user interface—will be elevated to meet the expectations of the fan base. "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 said. "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 momentum and maintain transparency, Moon Studios plans a series of beta tests in the coming months. An open beta is slated for December 2026, giving players a chance to dive into the evolving build and provide feedback that will directly shape the final version. Those who purchase No Rest for the Wicked before January 1, 2027, will be rewarded with a "Founders Pack" containing exclusive in‑game items and cosmetic upgrades as a thank‑you for their early support. PlayStation enthusiasts can look forward to pre‑order opportunities beginning in January 2027, which will also grant access to the same founder rewards.
This staggered approach aims to keep the community engaged across all major platforms while the development team continues to iterate. In a separate video posted to YouTube, studio founder Thomas Mahler offered additional insight into the decision. He described the past months as a "mad dash" to integrate new content, finalize the class system, and lock down the remaining 1.0 features.
"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 roots back to 2016, when the first prototypes of No Rest for the Wicked were sketched out. Over a decade of development, the team has refined the game's narrative, art direction, and mechanics, aiming to deliver a title that feels both fresh and timeless. "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 studio's ambition is to craft a "generational" experience—one of those rare games that define an era and leave a lasting imprint on the industry. By postponing the launch, Moon Studios hopes to avoid the pitfalls of a rushed release, which could undermine the game's longevity and the trust they have built with their audience. In summary, the delay to March 2027 reflects Moon Studios' dedication to delivering a meticulously crafted action‑RPG that lives up to the high bar set by its predecessors. The upcoming beta phases will provide the community with a hands‑on role in polishing the final product, while early buyers will be rewarded for their patience.
Fans can anticipate a richer, more balanced, and technically refined adventure when No Rest for the Wicked finally arrives, embodying the studio's promise to never compromise on quality.