Moon Studios’ director has firmly denied claims that Xbox is preparing to announce Ori 3. Thomas Mahler says the rumour circulating around Gamescom is unfounded and that he has heard nothing about a sequel currently being developed.

The claim suggested that Microsoft could reveal the third Ori game as part of a major Xbox announcement. It spread quickly because the two previous entries remain among the publisher’s most acclaimed modern releases, while the community has been waiting for another chapter for years.

“They’re nonsense. I haven’t heard anything about a new Ori game.”

Mahler’s response does not necessarily mean the series is gone forever. The central complication is that Moon Studios created Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, but Microsoft still owns the intellectual property.

Moon Studios has discussed buying Ori back

The studio has previously considered whether it should try to regain control of the IP, because Mahler believes that Ori naturally belongs with Moon Studios. Such a move would require a business agreement with Microsoft, however, and there is currently no indication that the two sides are close to one.

Mahler also warned that a familiar franchise cannot simply be handed to any available development team. If a sequel comes from a studio that does not understand the original games’ rhythm, atmosphere and design principles, the name alone will not guarantee a worthy result.

Moon Studios is meanwhile concentrating on No Rest for the Wicked. Rather than paying for a short appearance at a major event, Mahler prefers presenting updates through the studio’s own Wicked Inside broadcasts, where the developers control the format and have enough time to explain new features properly.

3DJuegos