Moon Studios CEO Threatens Shutdown Over Bad Reviews—Then Says Studio Is Actually Fine

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As a gamer, I recently learned about some troubling news straight from Moon Studios. There was a rumor floating around that their current early access game, No Rest for the Wicked, had been hit hard by something called “review bombing.” This could potentially lead to the studio’s closure, but luckily, it seems like they have managed to weather this storm and are not in any immediate financial danger at all.

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On the No Rest for the Wicked Discord server, our CEO Thomas Mahler shared his concerns about the future. Due to negative reviews bombarding our game on Steam, he expressed that it might be a possibility we won’t exist in a few months. If our studio isn’t generating any income, unfortunately, we may have to close down.

I wouldn’t ask if our success wasn’t tied to it. I rarely write reviews, but if you want to see us complete Wicked successfully, it’s crucial that we improve our review scores.” The request seems to have been effective, as over 2,000 positive reviews have been posted for the production in the past two days.

In April 2024, the game “No Rest for the Wicked” began early access on PC platforms. A PS5 version is slated for release at a later date. It appears that a coordinated review bombing occurred this month, coinciding with the release of a new update. Many of these negative reviews appear to be genuine. Players have expressed dissatisfaction with various aspects, particularly the game’s design flaws such as in-game timers and unbalanced gameplay.

This game isn’t difficult due to tough mechanics, but rather because it persistently tests your patience with numerous minor irritations. The design choices in this game seem illogical to me. Rather than waiting for a timer, we can now farm to shorten it. At this point, it feels like they are intentionally misleading us.

In response to speculation suggesting the developer might not exist within the next few months, Mahler clarified on Twitter yesterday that Moon Studios is currently not facing any immediate financial peril. He stated this as a means to counteract some of the questionable reviews circulating.

He remarked: “Yes, at the moment, our finances are stable – but occasionally, it’s appropriate for me to voice concerns about aspects in our field that I believe are inappropriate.” Indeed, many of the recent unfavorable reviews seem genuine.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve always admired Moon Studios for their incredible work on games like Ori and the Blind Forest. However, recent allegations about an oppressive workplace culture have left me concerned. In a report from GamesBeat, it’s suggested that the founders of Moon Studios were quick to criticize employees in public chats and slow to offer praise. While there are no lawsuits or claims of unlawful behavior yet, many workers express dissatisfaction with what they perceive as inappropriate behavior by the founders. These allegations are troubling, and I hope for a positive resolution that ensures a respectful and supportive environment for all employees at Moon Studios.

The analysis showed numerous instances of severe communication in our examined chats. Although the leaders consistently emphasized quality, they sometimes provided ambiguous or inconsistent guidance regarding feedback. Furthermore, they occasionally initiated modifications that disrupted the development team’s timeline, which in turn led to additional work pressure, or what is commonly known as ‘crunch’.

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2025-05-12 16:14