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No Rest for the Wicked Xbox Delay Explained
Moon Studios has clarified why No Rest for the Wicked will not launch on Xbox Series X|S alongside the PlayStation 5 and PC versions this October. The action RPG from the creators of Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps recently reappeared during Sony’s State of Play, where Moon Studios confirmed that No Rest for the Wicked will leave Early Access and launch in full.
At first, the absence of the Xbox from the announcement could have been read as a simple result of the game appearing during a PlayStation showcase. However, Moon Studios co-founder Thomas Mahler has now indicated that the Xbox version is coming later because the team needs more time to optimise the game for Xbox Series S.
Series S Optimisation Is Taking Longer Than Expected
As reported by VGC, Mahler responded on the game’s official Discord server, citing the Xbox Series S as the main reason the Xbox version will not be ready for the October launch window.
The less powerful Microsoft console has been a recurring topic of discussion across the industry, largely because developers must support both Xbox Series X and S when releasing on the current Xbox platform. For technically ambitious games, that can mean additional work to ensure performance, memory use, resolution targets, and overall stability hold up across both systems.
No Rest for the Wicked is not a simple project either. It combines handcrafted environments, physics-driven combat, loot, online cooperative play, town systems, and detailed visual presentation. That makes optimisation especially important, because the game’s combat depends on responsiveness and clarity.
Xbox And Switch 2 Are Still Planned For Later
Mahler also suggested that Moon Studios intends to ship the Xbox version once it can do so properly, rather than rushing it out to match the October launch on other platforms.
His comments also pointed to optimisation work for both Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2, reinforcing the expectation that No Rest for the Wicked is still planned for more platforms after the PC and PlayStation 5 release.
For now, Moon Studios has not announced a release window for either Xbox Series X|S or Switch 2. That leaves the October launch focused on the platforms already confirmed for version 1.0, while the remaining console versions continue through development.
A Bigger Launch Moment For No Rest for the Wicked
The delay comes at an important time for No Rest for the Wicked. The game launched on Steam Early Access in April 2024, and Moon Studios has spent the past two years expanding and refining it based on player feedback.
The full version is expected to be a major step up, with solo play, online cooperative play for up to four players, Soulslike combat, crafting, homebuilding, difficulty options, and a handcrafted world centred on exploration and progression.
Moon Studios has also shifted into self-publishing, making No Rest for the Wicked a significant project for the studio beyond its creative departure from Ori. The October launch is not only the game’s full release, but also a test of how far the studio can push its own action RPG identity.
Xbox Players Will Need To Wait For A Firmer Date
For Xbox players, the main takeaway is straightforward. No Rest for the Wicked is still expected on Xbox Series X|S, but it will not arrive day-and-date with PC and PlayStation 5.
That may disappoint players who followed Moon Studios through the Ori games on Xbox, especially given the studio’s long association with the platform. Still, the decision to delay the Xbox version is easier to understand if the alternative is launching a version that does not meet the studio’s performance target.
No Rest for the Wicked launches in full this October on PC and PlayStation 5. Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 versions are planned for a later date.
