Ori series developer Moon Studios has officially become fully independent after acquiring the publishing rights to their action-RPG game No Rest for the Wicked from Take-Two Interactive.
The game was originally set to be published under Take-Two’s indie-focused label, Private Division, which released it into Steam Early Access on April 18, 2024. However, following Take-Two’s sale of Private Division to Haveli Investments in November 2024, Moon Studios seized the opportunity to negotiate the return of the game’s publishing rights.
According to Moon Studios co-founders Thomas Mahler and Gennadiy Korol, this move allows them to execute their creative vision for No Rest for the Wicked “without restrictions.” In a video, they expressed excitement about the independence, stating it gives players “more confidence” in the studio’s ability to deliver the game exactly as intended, free from external influence or the risk of prolonged silences due to publisher-related constraints.
This transition aligns with Moon Studios’ broader philosophy of maintaining creative control. In May 2024, Mahler had already voiced skepticism about acquisitions by large publishers, citing the closures of studios like Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks as cautionary tales.
Alongside the independence announcement, Moon Studios revealed plans for the game’s future, including a major update called “The Breach,” set to launch on April 30. Described as the largest update to date, it will double the game world’s size with new zones, introduce new weapon archetypes, enemies, and bosses, and overhaul progression and gear systems. Following this, a subsequent update will add four-player co-op.
To celebrate their independence, the studio also launched a 30% discount on the game, available for a limited time after the announcement.
As of now, the game remains in Early Access on Steam, with full releases planned for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S alongside the PC version once development is complete.
Just Yesterday, developers also announced that their Ori series, which includes only two games, has sold over 15 million copies despite being available on Xbox Game Pass.
