Moon Studios’ Rollercoaster: From ‘Shut Down’ Fears to ‘No Immediate Danger’ Claims Over ‘No Rest for the Wicked’ Reviews
The gaming world was recently thrown into a loop when Thomas Mahler, CEO of Moon Studios, suggested the studio behind the acclaimed Ori series might face closure. This stemmed from concerns over negative reviews plaguing their latest early access title, No Rest for the Wicked. However, in a dramatic turn, Mahler quickly walked back the statement, clarifying the studio isn't in "immediate financial danger." What sparked this initial alarm, and what's the real story behind No Rest for the Wicked's rocky launch?
The unfolding saga began with Mahler's candid Discord post where he expressed fears that “review bombing” on Steam could jeopardize Moon Studios' future. He even stated that, "it's entirely possible that we won't be around in a couple of months". This was followed by a stark warning: if the game doesn’t make money, "we will have to shut down".
The plea seemed to resonate, as the game saw a surge of positive reviews in the following days. However, many of the negative reviews highlighted issues like “insanely bad design decisions,” timers, and questionable game balance. One reviewer wrote: "This game isn't hard because of challenging mechanics but because it tests your frustration limit with endless annoying little things."
Adding another layer to the story, Mahler later clarified on Twitter that the initial post was intended to “push back against some of the bulls**t reviews.” According to Mahler, the studio is "not in immediate financial danger". He justified his initial statement by saying, "from time to time, I think I’m allowed to speak up about issues within our industry I personally find unbecoming."
This situation throws light on the complexities of early access game development and review culture. No Rest for the Wicked, a hardcore action RPG with stunning art, clearly possesses potential. However, its early access journey is facing headwinds. As Jez Corden from Windows Central noted, "Early access can be a great way to create on-going funding for a game still in development, but for some, the old cliché that 'you only get one chance to make a good first impression' could be disproportionately damaging in some cases."
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Thomas Mahler has found himself in the spotlight. Past reports have alleged an “oppressive” workplace culture at Moon Studios. While no legal action has been taken, these allegations add further context to the studio's current predicament. While Private Division originally published No Rest for the Wicked, Moon Studios repurchased the rights a couple of months ago.
The episode raises a larger question about the impact of reviews on game development and the responsibilities of both developers and players. Can negative reviews, even if legitimate, unfairly cripple a studio? And what role does transparency play in managing player expectations during early access?
What are your thoughts on this situation? Is “review bombing” a legitimate form of feedback, or is it a damaging practice? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!
