Argomenti trattati
Thomas Mahler, the head of Moon Studios, recently opened up about the release strategy for the much-anticipated action RPG, No Rest for the Wicked. Initially, there were whispers that the game might skip the Xbox platform altogether due to challenging market conditions. However, Mahler has since clarified the studio’s priorities regarding console launches, and it seems there’s more to this story than first meets the eye.
Initial Concerns Over Xbox Release
In an earlier conversation, Mahler hinted that No Rest for the Wicked could potentially bypass Xbox entirely. He pointed to unfavorable market conditions for console games and even floated the idea of a release on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. This caused quite a stir in the gaming community, sparking a flurry of speculation and concern about the game’s availability on major consoles.
However, in a twist of fate, Mahler later walked back those comments, making it clear that no decisions had been finalized regarding the platforms. “We’re not abandoning Xbox,” he reassured fans, emphasizing that they’re focused on the platform with the largest community. This suggests that the game might debut on the PlayStation 5 before eventually making its way to Xbox Series X|S and potentially the Nintendo Switch 2.
“Given the current market conditions, we might launch No Rest for the Wicked on PlayStation 5 and potentially on Nintendo Switch 2,” Mahler noted in his initial remarks. He added, “We will need to discuss some things with Microsoft to determine what makes sense for Xbox.”
Community Feedback and Development Plans
After hearing from fans about the game’s release, Mahler reiterated, “As of now, there is nothing confirmed. We want to support consoles, and looking at the numbers, PlayStation 5 makes more sense at this moment. Ultimately, we will release on all platforms, but not simultaneously.” This underscores Moon Studios’ commitment to listening to the community while navigating the complexities of game development.
Currently, players can experience No Rest for the Wicked on Xbox through GeForce Now cloud gaming, which provides access to the PC version despite the absence of an official console release. Mahler’s insights highlight the hurdles developers face, particularly in selling full-price games on Microsoft consoles, given the popularity of Game Pass, a concern echoed by many in the industry.
As a mid-sized indie studio, Moon Studios is strategically focusing on platforms where they believe they can achieve the most success. Mahler reassured fans that they are actively working on cooperative gameplay—a feature that has been a significant request from the community. He expressed a strong desire to deliver this feature as soon as possible, aiming for a timely launch of version 1.0 to avoid the pitfalls of remaining in Early Access on consoles.
Strategic Decisions for Future Releases
In a follow-up post, Mahler took the opportunity to clarify the studio’s intentions, dispelling concerns that their previous statements hinted at a “ransom” or “fire sale” of No Rest for the Wicked to the highest bidder, effectively sidelining the Xbox platform due to profitability issues. “So no, it’s not a ransom; it’s common sense,” Mahler explained, reinforcing the rationale behind their development strategies.
“What our community wanted most was support for cooperative mode and consoles, so we want to meet these desires as quickly as possible,” he added. Mahler reaffirmed that the game is in a solid state and that once it exits Early Access, it will be ready for launch.
“To get there quickly, we will first support the platform with the most users, purely for resource reasons. We are a relatively small indie studio, so making a high-quality console port is no small feat. A port for Xbox means a port for both Xbox Series X and Series S, which requires more time for optimization than for PS5 and PS5 Pro,” Mahler elaborated.
He concluded by emphasizing that discussions with both Xbox and Nintendo will continue as they seek the best strategies to support their platforms effectively. Mahler is committed to making well-informed decisions that balance available resources with the desires of the gaming community while ensuring timely releases.