Ori Developers Explains Why No Rest For The Wicked Is Coming To PS5 Before Xbox

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Moon Studios, developers of Ori, have announced their focus on porting the PC game No Rest for the Wicked to the PlayStation 5, with a possible future release on Nintendo’s Switch 2. This decision is driven by present market conditions, although an Xbox Series X|S version isn’t entirely off the table. However, CEO Thomas Mahler emphasizes that it strategically aligns better to prioritize the PS5 before exploring other platforms.

Under the present market scenario, it’s possible that we’ll initially launch our game exclusively on PS5 and possibly on Switch 2. However, we need to have a conversation with Microsoft to determine what would be appropriate for Xbox. This was shared by Mahler on the No Rest for the Wicked Discord (as reported by Eurogamer).

In a social media update, Mahler provided additional details about his statement, stating that Moon Studios aims to release their games on all available platforms in the future. He also shared on the NeoGAF forum that optimizing for the PS5 is less complex compared to the Xbox Series X|S, making it more cost-effective for a smaller studio like Moon Studios to prioritize the PS5 at this time.

As a small independent studio, I understand the practicality of focusing our efforts on the platform with the largest user base due to resource constraints. A console port that meets our desired quality level is no small feat, and porting to Xbox would require optimizing for both Xbox Series X and Series S, which takes more time compared to PS5 and PS5 Pro. Therefore, it’s most likely we will start with the PS5 [and] PS5 Pro, ensuring our fans are satisfied while we work on other ports in due time. This decision is merely common sense, considering the need to make the most of our resources while delivering a quality product as swiftly as possible for our players.

moon studios could follow other developers in launching their game initially on the PlayStation 5 before moving to Xbox Series X|S, and data from last year hinted at a significant sales disparity between the two consoles, with the PS5 possibly selling twice as many units as the Xbox Series X|S. This difference might have grown even larger since then, considering Sony’s announcement that they had 49 million monthly users on PlayStation 5 by April 30, 2024.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed Microsoft being rather secretive about the specific sales numbers for their Xbox Series X|S console lately. In recent months, they’ve shifted towards a “this is Xbox” multiplatform approach, which means more of their once exclusive games are now playable on PlayStation 5. Additionally, they’ve partnered with Asus to create an Xbox-branded portable gaming PC.

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2025-07-22 20:09