Moon Studios’ action RPG No Rest for the Wicked has been in Early Access since April 2024, and many players are still watching closely for news on when the game will reach its full 1.0 release. While a launch date hasn’t been announced yet, the studio’s CEO, Thomas Mahler, recently shed light on a decision that matters to anyone thinking about buying in early: the game’s Early Access price is intentionally lower than what it will cost at full release.
Mahler explained that No Rest for the Wicked currently sells for $40 in Early Access, but once the game leaves Early Access and launches as a complete “premium title,” the price is expected to rise to $60. That planned increase has already been communicated publicly, so the jump shouldn’t come as a surprise when the 1.0 release finally arrives.
The reasoning behind the lower Early Access price is straightforward: Mahler believes players who jump into a game before it’s finished deserve a discount. Early Access players aren’t just buying a product—they’re accepting the downsides that come with an in-progress build, such as bugs, incomplete features, performance hiccups, and balance changes that can shift dramatically during development. On top of that, their feedback can directly influence updates and help shape the final version. In his view, that combination of risk and contribution should be rewarded with a better price.
He also pointed to Baldur’s Gate 3 as an example of a different approach, noting that it entered Early Access at its full $60 price—something he says he never personally loved. His stance is that early supporters should get “some extra love,” rather than paying the same as someone who waits for the finished release.
Of course, pricing strategies vary between studios. In Baldur’s Gate 3’s case, the decision to charge full price in Early Access was defended at the time based on the scale of development and the production quality already present, along with the amount of content available even before the final launch.
For No Rest for the Wicked, Moon Studios is sticking to its own philosophy: keep the barrier to entry lower during Early Access, then move to a higher standard price when the full release arrives. For players on the fence, it’s also worth noting the game has been offered at a temporary discounted sale price at times, making it even more affordable for anyone looking to try it early before the eventual $60 launch pricing kicks in.
