Moon Studios, the developer of the critically acclaimed Ori franchise, is now fully independent. Currently, Moon Studios is working on No Rest for the Wicked, an action RPG that is a notable departure from its Ori roots. This new release continues the unique and ambitious design present in the Ori games, just in a different genre.

In late 2024, Take-Two Interactive sold Private Division, the subsidiary responsible for handling the company's independent publishing efforts. Private Division had been responsible for a number of popular titles, including games like The Outer Worlds and Hades, as well as anticipated upcoming games like Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game. Despite the critical and commercial success garnered by these releases, Take-Two still proceeded with the sale of the studio to a private buyer. This sale included the majority of Take-Two's independent catalog, except for Moon Studio's latest release, No Rest for the Wicked. At the time, Take-Two explained that the game's omission in the sale was due to a desire to continue supporting the release through early access.

Now, Take-Two no longer has the publishing rights for No Rest for the Wicked as Moon Studios has announced its newfound independence. in a new update video for No Rest for the Wicked. This news came at the beginning of the video, as the announcement was mostly focused on No Rest for the Wicked's new update, "The Breach." Due to this independence, Moon Studios has gained full publishing rights for No Rest for the Wicked, giving the studio complete control over the franchise. The section related to the company's independence is short, but provides fans' insight into what this significant change means for the future of Moon Studios.

Development on No Rest for the Wicked is set to continue, now fully under the control of Moon Studios. Other than the newest update known as "The Breach," fans can expect new updates featuring 4 player co-op and new music by Ori composer Gareth Coker in the future. As for any new games, such as a new entry in the Ori series, there hasn't been any word yet. However, Moon Studios has stated that No Rest for the Wicked will be the company's focus for the time being. Because of this, fans looking forward to the next entry in the Ori story could be waiting quite a while for the next release in the series.

Moon Studio's move to independence has been in the making for quite some time, with it now being official. While the studio's future beyond No Rest for the Wicked remains uncertain, the developer's commitment to the game suggests that it will continue to receive updates for quite some time. For now, fans should not expect any announcements regarding new projects, as Moon Studios is fully dedicated to delivering the best possible experience with No Rest for the Wicked.