Moon Studios has officially secured the publishing rights to its upcoming top-down action-RPG, No Rest for the Wicked, marking its transition to “full independence.” The developer successfully negotiated the buy-back of the rights from Take-Two Interactive and will independently publish the game upon its release. No Rest for the Wicked entered Steam Early Access in April 2024 and is expected to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.
Moon Studios Achieves Full Independence
The creators of Ori and the Blind Forest made this announcement during the Wicked Inside Showcase, where they addressed their recent lack of communications since the release of The Crucible content update for No Rest for the Wicked in June 2024.
“We have spent several months in negotiations to regain the publishing rights for No Rest for the Wicked, allowing Moon Studios to operate independently. This legal journey took time, which is why we couldn’t provide updates during the process,” stated Gennadiy Korol, co-founder and director of the studio, in the presentation.
Excitement was palpable as Moon Studios CEO and creative director Thomas Mahler added, “Today, we are thrilled to confirm that the process is complete, granting Moon Studios full independence. This change will bolster your confidence in our vision as we are now free to develop No Rest for the Wicked precisely as we envision it, without any need for extended silences in the future.”
No Rest for the Wicked was originally published by the Take-Two subsidiary Private Division when it debuted in Early Access on Steam last year. However, in November 2024, Take-Two divested this indie label to concentrate on its primary franchises, selling the rights to most of Private Division’s existing and future games, while retaining the rights to No Rest for the Wicked.
The Breach Content Update
Alongside the news of their independence, Moon Studios revealed The Breach, the next significant content expansion for No Rest for the Wicked, which is described as the largest update yet.
The Breach will introduce additional story elements, extend campaign progression, and offer new playable areas, adversaries, and boss encounters. This major content update is scheduled for release on April 30, 2025.
No Rest for the Wicked is a top-down action-RPG developed by Moon Studios, recognized for their work on Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. The title was announced in 2023 and launched into Steam Early Access last year. Although a specific release date for the full version has not been provided, the game is confirmed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X platforms.
