Rumors have begun circulating suggesting a third entry in Microsoft's Ori series may be in development, though the creator of the franchise, Thomas Mahler, has expressed skepticism regarding these claims. Mahler, CEO of Moon Studios and director on both Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, stated he has not heard any information about a new Ori title.
Initial speculation surfaced from leaker NateTheHate, who suggested Microsoft might be preparing to announce a sequel to a dormant franchise, potentially including the Ori series. The leaker had previously provided accurate information regarding remakes for Star Fox and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. While an announcement was initially anticipated for Gamescom, NateTheHate has since indicated this is no longer the case.
Mahler responded to these rumors on X, formerly Twitter, noting that he was unaware of any such project. He drew a parallel to Microsoft's investment in 343 Industries for Halo, suggesting that companies need the right talent working on IPs to succeed, otherwise, the results may be subpar. Mahler also alluded to discussions Moon Studios has had about potentially reacquiring the Ori intellectual property, implying that other studios might struggle to do justice to the series.
Later, Mahler definitively labeled the Ori 3 rumors as "nonsense." He shared that he recently met with Gareth Coker, the composer for the Ori games, and that both expressed a desire to see the series continue. However, Mahler's direct involvement with Microsoft has been limited since the release of Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Reports from 2022 indicated that Microsoft did not proceed with publishing Moon Studios' subsequent title, No Rest for the Wicked, following a breakdown in the relationship between the publisher's teams and the studio's leadership. This falling out was reportedly influenced by accusations from Moon Studios employees regarding a hostile work environment allegedly fostered by the studio's founders. Mahler has also recently commented on Microsoft's approach to its studios, criticizing the company for what he perceives as an overemphasis on legacy titles rather than investing in future projects.