Thomas Mahler Calls Ori 3 Rumours ‘Nonsense’ After Xbox Gamescom Speculation

Moon Studios CEO and Ori series creator Thomas Mahler has shut down rumours of a new entry in the Microsoft-owned Ori series, posting on X on Sunday that he can "confirm that the Ori 3 rumors are nonsense." The denial lands in the same weekend in which social media has been buzzing about a possible Xbox game surfacing at this week's Gamescom 2026 in Cologne.

The speculation began with NateTheHate, a leaker-aggregator account with a track record of accurate early reports on unannounced video game projects, who told followers that an unannounced Xbox title was reportedly being developed by Saber Interactive and could show up during Microsoft's Gamescom plans. Follow-ups pinned that project to the Ori franchise without confirming a Gamescom appearance. Fan questions for Ori fans then quickly turned to Mr. Mahler himself, who has been the public face of the series since Ori and the Blind Forest shipped in 2015.

Mr. Mahler took to X on Sunday afternoon to address the chatter directly. In a first post he said that he had not heard anything about a new Ori project at Microsoft, but added that "internally, we've been discussing our interest in purchasing the IP back." Ori remains a Microsoft franchise; Moon Studios owns no rights to the brand since it left the Xbox family's orbit. About four hours later, Mr. Mahler returned to the platform with the more definitive statement: "I can confirm that the Ori 3 rumors are nonsense," noting that even Ori composer Gareth Coker, in Vienna recording the No Rest for the Wicked soundtrack, had joked that "it's time" for another entry.

Mr. Mahler's tone was markedly less combative than in earlier Ori-related social media exchanges. He did, however, take a swipe at Microsoft's stewardship of its other internal franchises, writing: "I think after having put billions into 343 to handle Halo and not being able to recapture the old magic, I'd guess that by now MS has learned their lesson that the right talent needs to work on those IP's." Asked by a follower whether leaker NateTheHate's report still holds up, Mr. Mahler replied: "I just talked to people at Microsoft — but sure, you'd know better."

The denial comes as Moon Studios remains deep in the run-up to the 1.0 release of No Rest for the Wicked, the dark-fantasy action RPG it has self-published since March 2025 after parting ways with Take-Two. Mr. Mahler has repeatedly suggested he would like to return to Ori one day, but his latest post is the clearest indication yet that any new project would only happen on his studio's terms — and at this point, those terms look very far from being met.

Reports of a potential Ori 3 remain unconfirmed on the Microsoft side. Both Microsoft and Xbox Games Studios marketing are expected to share their Gamescom 2026 schedules during the show, which opens in Cologne on August 27.

Mr. Mahler addressed fans directly on his X timeline on August 23, 2026.