Recent rumors circulating online regarding a potential third entry in the acclaimed Metroidvania series have been directly addressed by the developer. Thomas Mahler, CEO of Moon Game Studios and director behind Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, stated on August 23, 2026, that Ori 3 is not in development.
Writing on X, Mahler put the speculation to rest. "I can confirm that the Ori 3 rumors are nonsense," he stated, adding that he had heard nothing about any upcoming project. While the first two games were developed by Moon Game Studios, the intellectual property rights are owned by Microsoft Studios and Xbox Game Studios.
Internal Discussions on Purchasing the IP
Despite denying the current rumors, Mahler shared details regarding the studio's future relationship with the franchise. He revealed that the team has internally discussed attempting to buy the IP rights back from Microsoft.
"Internally, we've been discussing our interest in purchasing the IP back, because I doubt any other studio could really do much with it, so it makes sense for this one to come home to Moon!" Mahler wrote.
The developer also mentioned that composer Gareth Coker recently raised the possibility of a new game while visiting Vienna to record the soundtrack for No Rest for the Wicked, telling the team, "'It's time.'"
For now, players hoping for a continuation of the series face confirmation that no third installment is underway, though the original developer harbors long-term interest in acquiring the rights to helm a future project independently.