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[Draugoth]

Developer Moon Studios gained its popularity in the gaming industry by developing the games Ori and the Blind Forest in 2015 and Ori and the Will of the Wisps in 2020.Both games were developed in partnership with Xbox Game Studios and obviously for this reason, both are available right now to play via Xbox Game Pass.

However, according to Moon Studios' CEO on social media, Thomas Mahler Gennadiy, playing Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps via Xbox Game Pass doesn't help the studio, and he recommends that players buy their copies via Steam:

Appreciate all the messages about wanting to support Moon!Best way you can do that is by just buying Ori:

When asked "Why not on the Xbox store?", he replied

Cause then people get it on gamepass and that doesn’t help Moon

He also said Ori on PlayStation is up to Phil Spencer:

 

[MikeM]

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Even if it’s in gamepass you can still buy it. Not everyone on Xbox even has game pass.

What he wants is double dipper sales.

 

[Pancakes and Sausage]

Did the Moon Studios CEO not negotiate a contract with Microsoft in the first place? Did that contract not involve lots of money?

If not then why did you sign such a contract with Microsoft?

 

[UltimaKilo]

Even if it’s in gamepass you can still buy it. Not everyone on Xbox even has game pass.

What he wants is double dipper sales.

Yeah, odd statement. I played on Switch even though I have GamePass because it was a great game to play in bed. Am I missing something?

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

He got paid when he signed with GamePass

I will not buy Ori, I already supported them by playing it on GP

Don’t like the terms, don’t do the deals

 

[YCoCg]

Even if it’s in gamepass you can still buy it. Not everyone on Xbox even has game pass.

What he wants is double dipper sales.

Wouldn't he be advising people to buy it on both stores then instead of saying just get it on Steam?

 

[Pelta88]

 

[AJUMP23]

He signed a deal to make a the game on gamepass, money for the studio changed hands. If he needs more money he can sell another game to GP or make a new game to sell.


ORI games are excellent.

 

[nial]

Did the Moon Studios CEO not negotiate a contract with Microsoft in the first place? Did that contract not involve lots of money?

If not then why did you sign such a contract with Microsoft?

The second game started development before the 'Day 1 on GP' strategy happened. It must also be a big reason as to why they're not working with MS anymore.

 

[Jaybe]

I don’t think Thomas from Moon Studios likes Phil Spencer any more, hence seeking a new publisher for No Rest For The Wicked.

 

[Astray]

Dude woke up and chose war lol.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Even if it’s in gamepass you can still buy it. Not everyone on Xbox even has game pass.

What he wants is double dipper sales.

A month of GamePass is cheaper than buying the game...

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

He got paid when he signed with GamePass

I will not buy Ori, I already supported them by playing it on GP

Don’t like the terms, don’t do the deals

He was asked what people can do to support the studio right now, in March 2024. Obviously that means giving them more money today.

 

[Kuranghi]

The funny thing I'm taking away from this is I was DMing this guy on twitter asking if he could help me fix my broken HDR in Ori 2. He tried to help me but eventually he was like "I dunno pal"

Now I'm finding out he's the fucking CEO lol I thought he was a lead engineer (maybe he was at the time? This was a couple of years back), I imagine him in really important meetings making decisions that affect a lot of people and this cunt here is messaging like "uhhhh how do I fix hdr???"

This does explain some of the things he said like "sometimes the sliders are funny" (paraphrased), he did actually tell me that you can still get HDR outside exclusive fullscreen as long as Windows knows what's happening with the game's range output though, I didn't know that and I thought it must be always be in ex. fullscreen mode for the HDR to render properly.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

Wait what, I thought they could pay their rent using engagement? Why won't their landlord accept the number of downloads instead of currency?

 

[TheBomb]

I mean they did sign the papers. I guess their decision in the long run isn’t working out well.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

From any angle, though, millions of people having access to your game is a positive for the game. As far as exposure, brand recognition, word-of-mouth.

Financially, which is the only thing he’s addressing, yeah you’re not selling individual units you’re just making a lump sum according to whatever agreement you made with Xbox.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I don’t think Thomas from Moon Studios likes Phil Spencer any more, hence seeking a new publisher for No Rest For The Wicked.

Doesn’t sound like he has any malice for MS. He’s just saying if you want to go out of your way to support the studio then buy the game directly.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

i mean...at this point if you have dignity there is no point to spin Game Pass as positive for the industry, right?

you can love it but you should be aware that that was a snake-oil sales pitch from our favorite executive.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Moon Studios, always when talking about Xbox:

 

[Alebrije]

Same Will happen to their Wicked Game.....it's a trap for those kind of studios

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

You can just buy it on xbox as well, dunno why he's weirdly directing people to only steam for support.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

It obviously doesn't get them paid since MS owns the rights. I think Mahler is wrong, though, about it not helping the studio. Any exposure to get people excited about future Moon Studios games is good. I'm pumped for No Rest for the Wicked.

Same Will happen to their Wicked Game.....it's a trap for those kind of studios

No Rest for the Wicked isn't launching on Game Pass. I think it's Private Division, too.

 

[Robb]

Can’t say I have much interest in helping their studio. I’ll be happy to continue buying the games as long as the output is good though.

 

[Pop]

Doesn’t sound like he has any malice for MS. He’s just saying if you want to go out of your way to support the studio then buy the game directly.

I hope people keep playing their games through gamepass forever now

Idiot

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

It obviously doesn't get them paid since MS owns the rights. I think Mahler is wrong, though, about it not helping the studio. Any exposure to get people excited about future Moon Studios games is good. I'm pumped for No Rest for the Wicked.

oh shit, I was wrong

 

[mejin]

Well, the majority just play the games on GP and never look back. We all know It pretty well.

Anyway, more Sales on PlayStation coming tio.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I hope people keep playing their games through gamepass forever now

Idiot

Because he doesn’t share your hate boner for MS? Weird post.

 

[DonF]

"i made a poo poo deal, buuh huuh"

edit: both games are great, I have both for the swith, I liked the first one better...

 

[R3TRODYCE]

That game sucked.

 

[SHA]

GP just expose games that's not worth revisiting, how about we agree on this opinion piece and move on? , taking gp into account for future games is part of the marketing team, they need to figure this out.

 

[Saber]

Probably though that the deal money would compensate people not buying games on the plataform. I don't think asking people to support will help either.

 

[jm89]

Gamepass just prolonged the death of Xbox consoles.

It may do some lasting damage even after Xbox consoles are gone if those users still don't want to buy games.

 

[Spitfire098]

Remember some tried to push GamePass leads to more sales...

 

[semiconscious]

Did the Moon Studios CEO not negotiate a contract with Microsoft in the first place? Did that contract not involve lots of money?

If not then why did you sign such a contract with Microsoft?

hey! that was then! this is now!...

 

[JerryinSoCal]

He got paid when he signed with GamePass

I will not buy Ori, I already supported them by playing it on GP

Don’t like the terms, don’t do the deals

Yeah that's easy to say after the fact but when you are a new studio and need a publisher and someone comes along waiving cash in your face generally you take it. Plus he wasn't complaining the person asked him a question and he answered.

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

That game sucked.

What the hell are you even talking about? There is a serious case that could be made for the Ori series being named to the holy trinity of Metroidvanias.

 

[Negotiator101]

Did the Moon Studios CEO not negotiate a contract with Microsoft in the first place? Did that contract not involve lots of money?

If not then why did you sign such a contract with Microsoft?

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Hopefully buying the Ori collection on Switch also counts (it's a pic from last year; can't be arsed to make a new one).

 

[AngelMuffin]

Really hoping for an Ori 3 at some point. The first two were incredible in every aspect.

 

[CoreyFlawless]

WTH hell. Pretty sure Xbox help lot with whatever contract you sign. Also, almost sound like they could be afraid there next game not gonna be as great or big.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

He was asked what people can do to support the studio right now, in March 2024. Obviously that means giving them more money today.

Exactly this.

The funny thing I'm taking away from this is I was DMing this guy on twitter asking if he could help me fix my broken HDR in Ori 2. He tried to help me but eventually he was like "I dunno pal"

Now I'm finding out he's the fucking CEO lol I thought he was a lead engineer (maybe he was at the time? This was a couple of years back), I imagine him in really important meetings making decisions that affect a lot of people and this cunt here is messaging like "uhhhh how do I fix hdr???"

This is one of the great things about smaller teams and indie devs. Pretty funny that you stumped him and he acknowledged. Probably some edge case they don't think it's worth dedicating time and effort to resolving at this point.

From any angle, though, millions of people having access to your game is a positive for the game. As far as exposure, brand recognition, word-of-mouth.

Financially, which is the only thing he’s addressing, yeah you’re not selling individual units you’re just making a lump sum according to whatever agreement you made with Xbox.

That financial support really seems like the only way to address that question. Otherwise what does he say - pimp us out on Reddit? Both Ori games were huge successes, I don't think they need any help on the marketing front.

Doesn’t sound like he has any malice for MS. He’s just saying if you want to go out of your way to support the studio then buy the game directly.

It's a simple question and a simple response, but people like to make it more than it is. It's a slow news week/month and I'd guess a good portion of this forum is off playing one of the big 3 RPGs that recently hit.

 

[SportsFan581]

End of the day, they made some kind of agreement with MS (either directly regarding GP or via the original publishing agreement). Moon studios accepted those terms and did benefit in some way. Makes the OP headline a straight up lie.

 

[Rockman33]

Aka. We already got the bag for having it on Gamepass. Microsoft paid for the production. It was a 2nd party game…

 

[GametimeUK]

I played on Gamepass, bought both games on steam and both games physical on Switch too for my collection. Done my part. I love these games.

 

[Big Baller]

Moon Studios, always when talking about Xbox:

Gunna is a rat alright

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

That financial support really seems like the only way to address that question. Otherwise what does he say - pimp us out on Reddit? Both Ori games were huge successes, I don't think they need any help on the marketing front.

They did make money from that transaction, though. It was quite transparent. Xbox gives you _____ amount of money, your game goes on Game Pass for _______ length of time. Sign here. Money is deposited into Moon's business account. Money they didn't have before, and money they wouldn't have gotten otherwise from Xbox-specific individual title sales. Not after that amount of time after the game had launched. It had run it's course.

They can look back on it a few years later and say "Yeah we won't do a Game Pass deal again for *reasons*", but it's not like they did it and got nothing in return. No doubt the money from the Game Pass deal has allowed them to bankroll some of the development on their next game.

 

[Freeman76]

That guy is a serious peanut, I actually think there is something wrong with him, he says the stupidest shit most of the time and comes across as a total asshole

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

Developer Moon Studios gained its popularity in the gaming industry by developing the games Ori and the Blind Forest in 2015 and Ori and the Will of the Wisps in 2020.Both games were developed in partnership with Xbox Game Studios and obviously for this reason, both are available right now to play via Xbox Game Pass.

However, according to Moon Studios' CEO on social media, Thomas Mahler Gennadiy, playing Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps via Xbox Game Pass doesn't help the studio, and he recommends that players buy their copies via Steam:





When asked "Why not on the Xbox store?", he replied





He also said Ori on PlayStation is up to Phil Spencer:

Ori is a game published by MS so the Ori devs aren't getting any additional payments for Gamepass plays. But they do for Steam purchases due to how their contract was put together.