An unusual habit has emerged during the Early Access period of No Rest for the Wicked: many players buy the game during a sale and deliberately leave it untouched until version 1.0 is ready. Repeated progress wipes and an unfinished campaign convinced a large part of the community to secure the RPG at a lower price, place it in their libraries, and wait patiently for October. Thomas Mahler does not see this as a lack of interest, but as an extraordinary expression of trust in Moon Studios.

Moon Studios recently announced that No Rest for the Wicked will reach version 1.0 in October 2026 after spending more than two years in Early Access. The news surprised many followers because the project’s scale, frequently changing systems, and remaining content had led parts of the community to expect another two or three years of development. Several major updates also reset save progression, making some players reluctant to begin the same adventure again and risk losing dozens of hours after another fundamental change.

A peculiar compromise gradually became common. Many fans purchased the game during one of its Steam discounts but intentionally chose not to launch it, leaving it in their libraries until the full release. This allowed them to lock in the lower Early Access price while avoiding the possibility that another development reset would erase their progress. The practice became so widespread across Reddit, forums, and social media that it effectively turned into a distinct purchasing strategy around No Rest for the Wicked.

Trust in Quality Matters More Than Daily Engagement

Thomas Mahler, the game’s director and head of Moon Studios, reacted surprisingly warmly to the idea that people are paying for the studio’s new RPG and then waiting months or even years before seriously playing it. “I find it incredibly flattering,” he said. In his view, building a respected name depends less on constant marketing or immediate revenue than on establishing a consistent reputation for quality with every release.

“I have always believed that if you want to create a strong brand, quality ultimately has to be the thing you pursue. Our goal has always been for every game we release to be regarded as a masterpiece. I believe we achieved that with the Ori games, and naturally, with No Rest for the Wicked, we want to do even better than we did before,” Mahler explained. He added that Moon Studios does not build short-term plans merely to get through the next few months, but instead focuses on earning and preserving player confidence over many years.

For that reason, he is not concerned when fans choose not to follow every development diary, test every update, or play each new build immediately. “If players know that whenever a Moon Studios game arrives they are going to have a fantastic time, and they are already eager to experience it, then we are happy,” he added. From Mahler’s perspective, buying No Rest for the Wicked years in advance and calmly waiting for the completed version is not indifference. It is credit earned by the studio’s previous work.

Version 1.0 will expand the current game substantially. A new class system is intended to give characters a clearer fantasy and identity from the beginning of the adventure, while additional regions, a large number of campaign quests, and roughly 60 hours of total content are also planned. Mahler does not view the October launch as the end of development, however. Moon Studios intends to continue adding free updates and occasionally release larger paid expansions, while avoiding a business model built around microtransactions or an in-game economy deliberately shaped by paid content.

The full version of No Rest for the Wicked will launch for PC and PlayStation 5 in October, although an exact date has not yet been announced. Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch 2 versions are planned for later. Until then, many buyers will continue doing exactly what they have done throughout Early Access: purchase the RPG at a favorable price, close their Steam library, and wait for Moon Studios to finish a game they already trust enough not to play.

Source: 3DJuegos, Moon Studios, Steam