Ori Director Explains Why a Third Game Isn't Happening

Ori Director Shuts Down Third Game Rumors

Ori 3 isn't happening, at least not right now. The director behind the beloved series wants you to know it, and he's not mincing words. Thomas Mahler, who directed both Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps and currently serves as Moon Studios CEO, took to X, formerly Twitter, earlier today to squash the speculation. The rumors had been building for days, fueled by forum chatter and the proximity of Gamescom. But Mahler's response was about as definitive as it gets. So don't hold your breath.

It started on ResetEra. A user claimed a studio under the Saber Interactive umbrella had been tapped to develop a new entry in the series, and the same post suggested this mystery project could be unveiled at Gamescom, which kicks off in Germany this month. It's the kind of rumor that spreads fast in gaming circles, especially when it involves a franchise with the critical pedigree of Ori. But Mahler wasn't having any of it.

His first post was blunt. The Ori 3 rumors are nonsense, he said, and that should probably be the end of it. But Mahler didn’t stop there. He went on to reveal that Moon Studios had actually been having internal conversations about buying the rights to the Ori IP back from Microsoft, which owns the property, and that admission gives a pretty clear picture of the tension simmering between the two sides. That’s a big deal. It’s a rare, candid look at the fault lines.

The Halo Lesson Hangs Over Everything

Mahler didn’t just deny the rumors. He explained why he thinks Microsoft wouldn’t hand the series to another developer in the first place. His reasoning goes straight to Halo. He pointed out that Xbox poured billions into 343 Studios, now known as Halo Studios, to keep that franchise alive, and the results never quite recaptured the original magic. In his view, Microsoft has learned that lesson the hard way.

After pouring billions into 343 to handle Halo and still not recapturing the old magic, I'd guess Microsoft has learned by now that the right talent needs to work on those IPs, otherwise you'll just get more slop.”

Slop. That's a strong word. It's clearly aimed at the broader trend of publishers handing beloved franchises to studios with no connection to what made them special, and Mahler's point cuts deeper than a simple insult. The people who created something should be the ones trusted to continue it. So if Microsoft won't let Moon Studios make another Ori game, then maybe the studio should own the thing outright, and that's a claim about creative control that feels both radical and painfully obvious.

That's why he says the team has been discussing buying the property back. So it makes sense for this one to come home to Moon! That's as direct a statement of intent as you're going to get from a studio head mid-rumor-cycle. Fascinating position. And it suggests the relationship between Moon Studios and Xbox might be more complicated than fans assumed, given how quietly they've handled the public silence around their past projects and the changing nature of exclusivity deals.

Even the Composer Is Asking

Mahler's tweets included one small, human detail that cuts through the corporate noise. Gareth Coker came over for dinner a while back. He's the composer behind the iconic Ori soundtracks and Moon Studios' latest game, No Rest for the Wicked, and he was in Vienna recording that game's soundtrack when he asked Mahler directly if the team would be ready to do another Ori game. So that's the whole story.

It’s time,” Coker said, according to Mahler. But the reality is that no one from Microsoft has reached out to Moon Studios about a third entry, so if the publisher is planning something, the original team hasn’t heard a word about it. That doesn’t mean Microsoft couldn’t bring in another studio to handle the franchise. Mahler argues that would be a mistake. For everyone involved, it's a misstep that would cost them more than they'd gain.

Consider the context. Xbox has been shuttering studios at a worrying clip lately, and handing a critically adored series to an outside developer with no history on the property seems like a risky play. The Ori games are popular, sure. But they're not the kind of blockbuster that justifies throwing a new team at it and hoping for the best. So the safer bet, the one that makes creative sense, is either letting Moon Studios do their thing or letting the IP go back to them entirely. That's it.

What Fans Can Actually Do Right Now

If you haven't played the two existing games, this is probably the moment to fix that. Both Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps are available on Xbox Game Pass, and they remain two of the finest Metroidvanias ever made, so there's really no excuse left. The second game, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, released on March 11, 2020, and holds a Top Critic Average of 90 out of 100 on OpenCritic, with 98 percent of critics recommending it, which tells you everything you need to know. That's not a fluke. It's a studio operating at the top of its game.

It's rated E for Everyone, a nod to mild fantasy violence, and Moon Studios built it on Unity, a choice that quietly underpins both the accessibility and the polish of the whole experience. Those details matter. But the bigger takeaway is simpler, and it's this: the people who made these games are still interested in making more of them, and they're not gone, not defeated, not distracted by other ventures. They're just waiting on a phone call. That call hasn't come.

That might change eventually. Microsoft could always surprise everyone. But based on what Mahler said, Ori 3 is not in active development, and the rumors circulating online were just that, rumors. For now, the series sits in a strange kind of limbo, beloved by fans, championed by its creators, and owned by a publisher that hasn’t made a move. It’s not the ending anyone wanted, but it’s the one we’ve got.

Mahler’s frustration is understandable, and his willingness to talk about buying back the IP suggests he’s not done fighting for the franchise. That much is clear. Whether a third game eventually happens under his watch remains unclear, but one thing is certain: if it does happen, it won’t be because of a forum post or a Gamescom announcement, and it won’t come from public noise alone. It’ll be because the right people finally got the call. And that call can’t come soon enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Thomas Mahler say about the Ori 3 rumors?

Thomas Mahler stated that the Ori 3 rumors are nonsense. He also revealed that Moon Studios had internal conversations about buying the rights to the Ori IP back from Microsoft.

Why does Mahler think Microsoft would not hand the Ori series to another developer?

Mahler referenced the Halo example, saying that Xbox poured billions into 343 Studios without recapturing the original magic. He believes Microsoft has learned that the right talent must work on IPs, otherwise the result could be 'more slop.'

What did Gareth Coker ask Mahler during a dinner?

Gareth Coker, the composer for the Ori soundtracks, asked Mahler if the team would be ready to do another Ori game. Mahler recalled Coker saying, "It's time," but noted that no one from Microsoft has reached out to Moon Studios about a third entry.

What is the current status of Ori 3 according to the article?

The article states that Ori 3 is not in active development, and the rumors circulating online were just rumors. It sits in limbo, owned by Microsoft, with no outreach to Moon Studios as of now.

What practical action does the article suggest for fans who haven't played the Ori games?

The article suggests that fans who haven't played the two existing games should do so, as both are available on Xbox Game Pass. They are described as two of the finest Metroidvanias ever made, with Ori and the Will of the Wisps holding a 90/100 critic average on OpenCritic.