No Rest for the Wicked May Delay Xbox Release Due to ‘Market Conditions’

No Rest for the Wicked: Potential Xbox Release Delay

In a recent discussion within the official Discord channel for No Rest for the Wicked, Thomas Mahler, founder and Game Director of Moon Studios, hinted that the upcoming top-down action RPG might not launch on Xbox immediately. Instead, the game’s initial release could focus on the PlayStation 5 and possibly the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

Mahler noted the current state of the market while addressing fans. He mentioned,

“By the way, given current market conditions, we might only release on PlayStation 5 and potentially Nintendo Switch 2 for the time being. We’ll have to discuss things with Microsoft to see what makes sense for Xbox.”

While this statement isn’t official confirmation of an Xbox skip, Mahler further elaborated on social media that prioritizing the PS5 aligns with sound business strategy considering present industry dynamics.“There’s nothing to officially confirm yet. We want to support consoles and just looking at the numbers, PS5 makes the most sense at the moment. Ultimately, we’ll ship on all platforms, but likely not at the same time!”

Launch and Development Insights

No Rest for the Wicked is set to debut in early access on PC in late April 2024. Initially published by Private Division, Moon Studios reacquired the publishing rights earlier this year, signifying a shift in their strategic approach.

Several months prior, Mahler publicly addressed concerns regarding the game’s reception, urging fans to leave positive reviews on Steam due to encountering review bombing. This situation could play a key role in their decision to prioritize platforms that promise higher profitability, particularly the PS5 and potentially the Nintendo Switch 2.

Market Dynamics and Xbox’s Position

Current statistics reveal that Xbox’s user base does not compare favorably to that of the PlayStation 5, or even the Nintendo Switch 2, if its sales momentum continues. Xbox hardware sales have been declining, exacerbated by Microsoft’s decision to make first-party titles available not only on PC but across other gaming platforms as well.

This trend has led third-party developers to approach Xbox releases with caution, especially when substantial investments are required without the assurance of substantial returns—often contingent on partnerships like Game Pass, which has not been established for No Rest for the Wicked.

It’s an interesting twist for Moon Studios, a developer renowned for the Ori franchise—an IP that initially thrived on the Xbox platform. Now, they find themselves reassessing the order of platform releases based on market viability.

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