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[LectureMaster]

Moon Studios 'Fully Independent' After Purchasing Publishing Rights from Take-Two

Ori, No Rest for the Wicked dev goes it alone

www.pushsquare.com

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Moon Studios, the developer behind the Ori series and the upcoming PS5 game No Rest for the Wicked, has purchased its independence from GTA publisher, Take-Two Interactive. The move will allow Moon Studios to "execute our vision without restrictions".

No Rest for the Wicked, which is currently in Early Access, was set to be published by Private Division, as a subsidiary of the monolithic Take-Two (thanks, Eurogamer). Following Private Division's own sale late last year, now some four months later, Moon Studios has announced that it will perform its own publishing duties for the upcoming action-RPG. The announcement comes alongside a major update for the in-development title; a big day for the studio, indeed.

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[LectureMaster]

T thomasmahler hope all is going well. Really look forward to the game's full release!

 

[Pakoe]

Good for them i guess

 

[GC_DALBEN]

Good Luck, both ori games are great and im really liking nrftw

 

[DrMano]

Two of my favorite games ever made. The CEO of Moon Studios Thomas Mahler is one the few shining beacons of this rotten industry. Good on them to gain their independence, and I'm really looking forward to whatever they make next.

 

[BennyBlanco]

How is the early access of their new game? I saw it’s on sale

 

[ClanOfNone]

There is another reality where Moon made an awesome Metroid Dread instead of the crappy one we got.

 

[Little Mac]

The Ori games were amazing and No Rest For the Wicked looks simply divine. I knew I was going to buy it the second I saw the reveal trailer and I'm trying to stay in the dark until it fully releases. Easily in my top 10 anticipated games hopefully coming out in the next year or so.

 

[FeralEcho]

Thank God! I wish them good luck and look forward to anything they do in the future!

After Ori I support them wholeheartedly. Amazing studio!

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

Ori 2 is so perfect that I don't want a 3rd as there is no way it could ever get better. Great games, great studio.

 

[panda-zebra]

Where's the usual GAF cynicism?

Came in fully expecting to see people imagining this was something forced upon them rather than a move to side-step the evil oppression of Take-Two imposing "restrictions" on "executing our vision" after what happened with Private Division. I'll be honest, it was my first reaction, but I'm a cynical old twat.

Take-Two obviously thought there was potential with the game as it stayed with them and their AAA-focus instead of leaving with the rest of the PD-published indies when sold to that investment firm. It's got a framework for solid MTX hooks with the timers and dalies/weeklies, but it seems they'll have to work on making any of that live up to the rest and its potential, so more fun and engaging vs. annoying and needlessly cock-blocky. Numbers don't look great either even for early access. When you look what PoE2's done so far it's stark.

I like what this game is attempting to do and look forward to it arriving on more platforms. Maybe they've a plan to hook up with someone else that can better serve their needs, it deffo feels like the kind of project that's best achieved under the wing of a supportive 3rd party than alone.

 

[TheThreadsThatBindUs]

A studio positively brimming with talent.

Wish them all the best in their new found independence.

No Rest For the Wicked looks fookin stellar!!!

 

[Lucifers Beard]

This is only good news as far as I'm concerned. This gives them full creative control and let's them realise their vision of the game rather than have publishers breathing down their necks.

I need to play the Ori games!

 

[Complistic]

Very nice. Independent studios just where it's at these days.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

This is a positive. Good on them for looking for a better future.

 

[Pedro Motta]

This is the only port beg I will ever make: Give me Ori on PS5.

(so I can sell my Series X with no regrets)

 

[hemo memo]

Ori was fantastic. I will buy anything like that from that studio. They are incredibly talented.

 

[Mr Moose]

I thought they already were.
When did Take Two pick them up?

 

[panda-zebra]

I thought they already were.
When did Take Two pick them up?

They signed up with Private Division to publish the game before the current gen began and stayed with Take-Two when they sold PD and everything else along with it.

 

[otakuninja2006]

Awesome! I wish them good luck, and it's crazy how the founder of the studio is actually on this forum. So ofc, I gave T thomasmahler a follow!

Should give Ori a play if it's still on Game Pass when I get that back.

 

[Vyse]

Just finished Will of the Wisps. Fantastic game. No idea why I had it sitting in my backlog incomplete.

Really looking forward to their next game! Best of luck!

 

[Magic Carpet]

I’ve had No Rest for the Wicked sitting in my Steam Wishlist for the longest time. Is it worth buying yet?

 

[Buggy Loop]

30% off? New major content patch? I'm in.

 

[HYDE]

This is the only port beg I will ever make: Give me Ori on PS5.

(so I can sell my Series X with no regrets)

Just buy them for Switch

 

[HYDE]

I’ve had No Rest for the Wicked sitting in my Steam Wishlist for the longest time. Is it worth buying yet?

Yes, it’s 30% off and receiving a massive update also.

 

[Luipadre]

I will check out the update but wont play the game fully until 1.0. Release version will be so fucking good

 

[Ogbert]

I’ve had No Rest for the Wicked sitting in my Steam Wishlist for the longest time. Is it worth buying yet?

At some point, it will be a great game.

Performance is rough. And forget it on Steam Deck.

 

[Pedro Motta]

Just buy them for Switch

Nah, I want them at 4K 120 fps HDR like the Series X. It's gorgeous.

 

[kiphalfton]

Ori 2 is so perfect that I don't want a 3rd as there is no way it could ever get better. Great games, great studio.

First one is sensational.

First Metroidvania game I've played, and sounds like I started at the top, so sounds like beyond the second game it's all downhill from there.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Nah, I want them at 4K 120 fps HDR like the Series X. It's gorgeous.

Do you have tv or a monitor that will push 4k at 120...for whatever reason I couldn't finish either game on xbox and my LG-C3 and LG-C4 didn't change that one lick.

I agree the switch is a great place to play these games (handheld mode at least they clicked for me). I started the first one on xbox but couldn't finish it there, eventually got it on PC and played through it. Solid 6.5/7 out of 10 for me and I don't know if I could put it in my top 10 "Metroidvania" games...maybe!

I purchased the collectors edition of the second game on xbox, didn't even open it. Played it on PC later and didn't finish. Finally purchased it and finished it on switch. Personally didn't enjoy the second as much as the first 5.5 out of 10 for me. Def not a top 10 title for me.

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

First one is sensational.

First Metroidvania game I've played, and sounds like I started at the top, so sounds like beyond the second game it's all downhill from there.

If you thought the first was good hold onto your hair cause that shits about to be blown back hard by the second. I wish I could experience it again for the first time.

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

Nah, I want them at 4K 120 fps HDR like the Series X. It's gorgeous.

I don't think Blind Forest has HDR support on Xbox. Might be wrong but it didn't when I played it last. Will of the Wisps looks INSANE with HDR.

 

[Kvally]

Finally get to play No Rest on my Xbox. This is great news.

 

[Haint]

Have they gotten rid of the survival sim bullshit and added coop yet?

 

[LavitzSlambert]

I love the Ori games! I won't buy an early access game, but looking forward to NRFTW. Happy to hear Moon is healthy enough to be independent, and hopefully that will continue despite the downturn in the industry the last couple years.