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Moon Studios focuses on PS5 for No Rest for the Wicked

Moon Studios will likely release their new game on PlayStation 5 first due to market conditions.

July 21, 2025 at 08:25 PM

No Rest for the Wicked Prioritizing PS5 For Console Launch

The console landscape is forcing studios to make tough choices.

Moon Studios Shifts Focus to PlayStation 5 for No Rest for the Wicked

Moon Studios, known for its successful Ori franchise, is shifting its focus to PlayStation 5 for the launch of their upcoming game, No Rest for the Wicked. The studio's CEO, Thomas Mahler, indicated that market conditions have led to this decision, stating that the PlayStation 5, with approximately 80 million units sold, makes the most sense for their release. In contrast, the Xbox Series X/S has achieved lower sales numbers, complicating the justification for prioritizing that platform. Although Mahler reassured fans that the game will still reach Xbox eventually, it is clear that the current gaming market has influenced the studio's strategic choices. Furthermore, he expressed interest in possibly releasing the game on the new Nintendo Switch as well.

Key Takeaways

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Moon Studios is prioritizing PS5 for its new game release.

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Current market conditions influenced the decision to delay Xbox launch.

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PS5 has sold around 80 million units compared to Xbox's lower numbers.

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Nintendo Switch 2 is also considered for a potential future release.

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Moon's CEO emphasized the need for discussions with Microsoft.

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The competitive landscape affects smaller developers keen on maximizing audience.

"The numbers show that PS5 makes the most sense at the moment."

Thomas Mahler, CEO of Moon Studios, on why PS5 is prioritized for the game.

"We want to support consoles and ultimately we'll ship on all platforms."

Mahler clarifies that an Xbox release is still planned.

"There’s nothing to officially confirm yet about Xbox timing."

Mahler's statement on the uncertain timeline for the Xbox release.

The decision by Moon Studios to prioritize the PlayStation 5 reflects significant trends in the gaming industry, where market performance can dictate development strategies. As console sales skew heavily in favor of Sony, smaller developers may feel pressured to align their releases with the more lucrative platform. This shift highlights ongoing challenges for Microsoft in attracting exclusive titles, especially in light of Moon Studios' history with Xbox. With smaller teams being forced to allocate limited resources effectively, the impact of console sales dynamics becomes a critical consideration for game development.