Creator of touching hit with average of 90/100 on Metacritic doesn’t think there’s another studio that could handle developing third installment of Ori series

by

It was planned for Microsoft to reach out to Moon Studios concerning the development of a sequel to Ori and the Will of The Wisps, but the creators are expressing some reservations about the proposed project.

Thomas Mahler and his team are currently focusing on a new project, albeit with plans for an extensive update to this as well following a lengthy period of inactivity. In response to queries regarding the future of Ori, the head of Moon Studios revealed that while Ori: No Rest for The Wicked remains a key focus for the studio, they recently received a call from Microsoft proposing the development of another 3D platformer (as shared on Reddit).

Ori for Moon Studios is like Dark Souls for FromSoftware

Mahler’s analogy draws a parallel between Moon Studios and FromSoftware, considering the high demand from fans for new creations from each studio. Just as fans eagerly anticipate another installment in Hidetaki Miyazaki’s Dark Souls series, many gamers yearn for another Ori title, even though both development teams might feel overwhelmed or tired after working on these franchises for over a decade.

It’s worth noting that The Blind Forest game wasn’t initially planned to have a sequel. However, due to fan support, Moon Studios eventually began working on Ori’s second journey. By April 2024, Mahler had multiple concepts for the third installment and even a title, but this too presented challenges. Mahler might have steered clear of issues with publishers over abbreviations, much like with NRFTW, which seemed to evoke unfavorable connotations among Private Division’s marketing team.

Story with another studio and problems with 3D

Prior to these posts, Mahler had already been questioned about extending the series with assistance from another studio. However, both fans and the developer himself harbor reservations about such an idea. Mahler expressed that the main challenge in handing over the Ori series to another developer would be crafting a compelling narrative.

According to Mahler, there’s a strong possibility that the upcoming game could draw heavily from the mechanics found in “Will of the Wisps,” and further develop them for a sequel that delivers more of the same great experience. However, he voices concerns about how the level designs in “Ori 3” might face challenges if they aim to match the quality of previous installments. Above all, Mahler is primarily interested in discovering the ideal studio capable of continuing Ori’s story, especially in light of the conclusion reached in “Will of the Wisps.

The developer additionally shared an interesting idea: some team members at Moon Studios were considering creating a 3D prototype for the Ori series. Yet, Mahler voiced his disagreement with this proposal, not due to apprehension about the responses from overzealous fans, but out of worry about the time required to refine the camera work in a three-dimensional space.

Additionally, he affirmed that the studio has already released “No Rest for the Wicked” on PS5, hinting that the console’s debut may not be as distant as some fans anticipated. Moreover, fresh weaponry is in development. Currently, the team is focusing on polishing new content for the forthcoming The Breach update, as well as mechanics and fixes, such as the Plague system. Mahler expressed dissatisfaction with his workstation (“I’ll avoid Intel CPU in future”) and shared his disappointment about the absence of official plans for mod support, although he is aware that fans will likely find a way to modify the game on their own.

Read More

2025-01-29 01:32