Best known for Ori, Moon Studios is moving toward darker themes with No Rest for the Wicked, a top-down action RPG with tough combat and finely designed worlds.
The game is currently in early access on PC and will fully launch on PlayStation 5, but its Xbox release is uncertain.
Despite the studio’s prior history with Microsoft, No Rest for the Wicked might not arrive on Xbox at launch, and it may not come at all unless something changes behind the scenes.
What Makes PS5 the Safer Bet?
The doubt came after Moon Studios’ CEO, Thomas Mahler, openly said that their platform plans are influenced by current “market conditions.”
Mahler said on Discord and later on X that, from a business point of view, the PlayStation 5 is the best platform right now.
The PS5 has many more players and sells games better, so it makes sense to launch there first.
They may release a Switch 2 version thanks to how well the console is doing so far. Xbox is currently lower on the list, but may still be considered later.
Is This Really About Hardware Limitations?
Even so, the problem isn’t only about tech since the game is built on Unity and meant for hardware less powerful than the Xbox Series S.
If it can run on the upcoming Switch 2, there's little reason it couldn’t run on Xbox. But Mahler suggested that bringing the game to Xbox still requires more effort than it’s currently worth.
The issue isn’t the hardware itself, but the effort needed for certification, optimization, and platform requirements. That work only makes sense for a small studio when the returns are guaranteed, and Game Pass offers that guarantee.
Developers have increasingly voiced concern that Xbox players are less likely to buy games outright due to how heavily Microsoft has pushed its subscription model. Unless a game is part of Game Pass, it rarely sells well on the platform.
For an outside developer, launching on Xbox without a deal can seem like investing time and money with no guarantee of getting it back. That tradeoff is especially risky for teams that don’t have a large cushion to absorb weak sales.
Is There Bad Blood Between Moon Studios and Microsoft?
Ori used to be a flagship for Xbox indie partnerships, but a few years ago, reports surfaced about workplace problems and conflicts involving Mahler.
Although official statements do not reference those tensions, they may still be influencing the current hesitation.
Microsoft reportedly cut ties with Moon Studios after the Ori games, making the developer work with a new publisher for No Rest for the Wicked, which later shut down.
In the end, Mahler has made it clear that No Rest for the Wicked will likely come to Xbox eventually, but fans shouldn’t expect it to arrive on day one.
The studio wants to revisit talks with Microsoft and figure out whether it makes financial and technical sense to bring the game over.
Until then, the PS5, Steam, and possibly the Switch 2 will receive most of the attention, as they have better sales and fewer issues.
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