Whispers of the Spirit Tree: A New ‘Ori’ Title Reportedly in Development Amidst Franchise’s Massive 15-Million Sales Milestone
Executive Overview
The critically acclaimed and emotionally resonant Ori platforming franchise appears to be expanding its horizons. According to recent insider reports from prominent and generally reliable industry leaker NateTheHate, a brand-new entry in the Ori series is currently in active development. This development follows hot on the heels of monumental commercial achievements for developer Moon Studios and publisher Xbox Game Studios, with the franchise recently crossing the staggering threshold of 15 million copies sold worldwide.
For Nintendo fans and lovers of atmospheric, metroidvania-style action-platformers, this rumor carries an extra layer of excitement. Given that both Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, ultimately found a loving home on the original Nintendo Switch—pushing Nintendo’s hybrid hardware to its audiovisual limits—industry speculation is already running rampant. Observers are keenly watching to see whether this rumored continuation will make its way to Nintendo’s successor console, widely anticipated in the market.
While questions remain regarding when the project will be officially unveiled—with speculation swirling around upcoming industry showcases like Gamescom—the mere acknowledgment that Moon Studios’ beloved franchise is continuing marks a significant moment for contemporary gaming. This comprehensive report explores the origins of the rumor, analyzes the commercial trajectory of the Ori series, evaluates what this means for upcoming hardware platforms like the Nintendo Switch 2, and contextualizes the ongoing legacy of one of the modern era’s most visually stunning artistic achievements.
Detailed Chronology: From Indie Darling to Global Phenomenon
To understand the weight of a potential third Ori title, one must examine the meteoric rise of the franchise, a journey defined by painstaking artistry, technical wizardry, and emotional storytelling.
2015: The Birth of a Forest Guardian
When Ori and the Blind Forest launched in March 2015 for Xbox One and PC (with an Xbox 360 version following shortly after), the gaming landscape was instantly captivated. Developed by Moon Studios—an independent developer operating with a distributed, remote team model—the game introduced players to the glowing white spirit creature Ori and the dying forest of Nibel.
From its heartbreaking opening cinematic to its tight, challenging, and fluid platforming mechanics, Ori and the Blind Forest was celebrated as a masterclass in game design. Critics praised its hand-drawn aesthetic, which brought every leaf, creature, and background element to vibrant life, accompanied by Gareth Coker’s breathtaking, sweeping orchestral score. It wasn’t just a commercial success for Microsoft; it established Moon Studios as a premier creative force capable of rivaling first-party traditional giants in both polish and emotional resonance.
2019–2020: Expanding Horizons and the Nintendo Switch Port
Recognizing the universal appeal of the franchise, Microsoft and Moon Studios made a move that shocked industry purists at the time: bringing Xbox-published games to rival platforms. In September 2019, Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition made its surprise debut on the Nintendo Switch.
Ported by the technical wizards at Iron Galaxy, the Switch version was a revelation. It proved that the hybrid console could handle the frantic, particle-heavy 60 frames-per-second gameplay of Ori without sacrificing its ethereal beauty. This paved the way for the March 2020 launch of the long-awaited sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
Will of the Wisps expanded the scope of the original game exponentially. It introduced combat mechanics inspired by titles like Hollow Knight, expanded the world of Niwen, and delivered an even more grandiose orchestral soundtrack. Remarkably, Will of the Wisps launched simultaneously on Xbox One, PC, and—crucially—the Nintendo Switch, marking a rare day-and-date console availability for an Xbox Game Studios title on a Nintendo platform.
2023–2025: The 15-Million Milestone and Beyond
Following the completion of Will of the Wisps, Moon Studios shifted its primary focus to No Rest for the Wicked, a dark, isometric action-RPG released into early access. Meanwhile, the Ori franchise continued to quietly rack up staggering sales figures. By early 2025, official metrics confirmed that the combined sales of Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps had officially surpassed 15 million copies sold.
This milestone cemented Ori not merely as a critical darling, but as a modern commercial powerhouse, proving that narrative-driven, single-player platformers retain massive, enduring appeal across multiple generations of gamers.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Weight of the Leak
The latest news concerning a new Ori project originated on the ResetEra forums, where industry insider NateTheHate casually confirmed ongoing discussions and development efforts regarding the franchise during a community thread tracking Xbox Game Studios updates.
When asked for clarification by users tracking various unannounced projects, NateTheHate explicitly stated: "A new Ori is what I was referring to. I do not have confirmation whether it will or won’t be at Gamescom, yet."
Why the Source Carries Weight
NateTheHate has built a strong reputation within the games industry for accurate scoops, particularly concerning release windows, platform ports, and first-party strategic shifts by major publishers like Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony. While industry insiders always advise a degree of caution until official publishers (such as Xbox Game Studios) pull back the curtain, the leak aligns logically with the commercial reality of the IP.
The Business Case for More Ori
From a financial perspective, leaving a 15-million-selling franchise dormant would run counter to industry trends. However, several logistical questions remain:
- Developer Availability: Moon Studios has been deeply entrenched in the development and iterative patching of No Rest for the Wicked. Whether Moon Studios is handling the core development of this new Ori title internally, or if Xbox Game Studios has entrusted the IP to an external co-development or support studio, remains the subject of intense industry speculation.
- Creative Continuity: A hallmark of the first two Ori games was the distinct artistic vision of Moon Studios co-founders Thomas Mahler and Gennadiy Korol. Any continuation of the franchise will inevitably be judged by how closely it adheres to the distinct visual and mechanical identity forged by the original core team.
Official Statements and Industry Implications
To date, neither Xbox Game Studios nor Moon Studios has issued an official confirmation or denial regarding the leak. Historically, Microsoft has maintained a flexible publishing strategy for its intellectual properties, ensuring that games reach the widest possible audience across PC, Xbox consoles, cloud gaming, and competing hardware ecosystems like Nintendo and PlayStation systems.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Factor
One of the most exciting implications of a new Ori game—assuming it materializes—is its potential compatibility with next-generation hardware. The original two games pushed the standard Nintendo Switch hardware to its absolute limits, requiring dynamic resolution scaling to maintain a stable 60 frames per second during heavy combat and platforming sequences.
With Nintendo widely expected to introduce its successor console (frequently referred to by the industry as the Nintendo Switch 2) in the near future, a brand-new, cutting-edge Ori title could serve as a stellar showcase for the enhanced graphical capabilities, faster storage solutions, and improved processing power of Nintendo’s next-generation hardware.
If Nintendo’s upcoming console features advanced scaling technologies or backwards compatibility pipelines, early third-party and first-party adopters could experience a visual feast that bridges the gap between traditional console power and portable convenience.
Future Outlook: What to Expect Next
As the video game industry prepares for the autumn trade show season—featuring events like Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show, and various digital showcases—attention will inevitably turn toward Xbox Game Studios and Moon Studios to see if an official teaser or announcement is waiting in the wings.
For fans of the genre, the prospect of returning to the ethereal, heartbreaking, and breathtakingly gorgeous world of the Spirit Tree is cause for immense celebration. Whether the project is slated for an imminent reveal or remains deep in the production pipeline, the 15-million-copy legacy of Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps ensures that any future installment will carry immense expectations.
As more information emerges regarding platform availability, developer rosters, and potential release windows, industry analysts and passionate gamers alike will keep a watchful eye on the horizon—waiting to see when the light of the forest will shine once again.
