So, big news dropped recently from Moon Studios—you know, the folks who gave us the stunning Ori games and are now knee-deep in crafting No Rest for the Wicked. They’ve gone "fully independent" after snagging the publishing rights to their next big thing from Private Division, which, if you haven’t heard, got sold off by Take-Two. Wild times in the gaming world, right?
In their latest YouTube update—seriously, go check it out if you’re into dev behind-the-scenes stuff—studio co-founders Thomas Mahler and Gennadiy Korol spilled the beans. Take-Two dumping Private Division caught them off guard, but they turned it into a win. A quick negotiation later, and bam, Moon Studios bought the rights to No Rest for the Wicked. Mahler’s exact words? "Moon Studios is now fully independent." As a gamer who’s been burned by corporate meddling in creative projects before—like, remember that one time a publisher forced a rushed launch?—this feels like a breath of fresh air. They’re hyping it up too, promising you that this freedom means they can shape the game exactly how they envision it, no more awkward radio silence.
If you’ve been following along, No Rest hit Steam Early Access last April and has been racking up "Mostly Positive" vibes with each patch. Not perfect, sure, but it’s got soul—and the devs are clearly listening to feedback. No word yet on a Switch port, though Mahler’s been teasing the idea of bringing it to the Switch 2 ever since Nintendo dropped that bombshell announcement. I mean, c’mon, who wouldn’t want to hack-and-slash through that gorgeous world on the go?
Now, what does "fully independent" really mean for Moon Studios? Hard to say until we see the results, but the thought of them dodging publisher red tape to deliver No Rest for the Wicked unfiltered? That’s got me pumped. Back in the day, I watched too many indie devs compromise their vision because some suit wanted "broader appeal." This move could be a game-changer—pun intended.
Oh, and here’s the kicker: Take-Two sold Private Division to some mystery buyer—rumor has it it’s Haveli Investments out of Texas—saying they’re refocusing on their "core business." Then, plot twist! A new studio, spun up by ex-Annapurna Interactive crew, swooped in and grabbed the rest of Private Division’s lineup. We’re talking Tales of the Shire and Game Freak’s Project Bloom. But No Rest for the Wicked? Nope, that’s all Moon Studios now.
So yeah, keep an eye on this one. Independence could mean big things for Moon Studios, and honestly, I’m rooting for them to knock it out of the park with No Rest for the Wicked.
