Choosing to publish Ori and the Blind Forest may have seemed like a risky endeavor to Microsoft Studios. Ori and the Blind Forest's developer, Moon Studios, had never released a completed game before, and the indie, artsy platformer certainly didn't fit in with other E3 2014 titles.
If Ori and the Blind Forest had sold poorly, it could have spelled the end for Moon Studios, or at least the end of their partnership with Microsoft. Thankfully, quite the opposite turned out to be true, according to a recent comment from one of its developers.
According to Thomas Mahler, one of the developers of Ori and the Blind Forest, the indie title managed to sell enough copies in its first week alone to become profitable for Microsoft Studios. While the exact number of units sold is unknown, the co-founder of Moon Studios confirmed the profitability of the game for its publisher.
However, he also added that the game took a couple of weeks longer to become profitable for the developer itself. This is particularly impressive, since the game sells for much less than typical current-generation games, at just $19.99. Both of the studios can probably look forward to another boost of revenue from Ori and the Blind Forest, as a port of the game is still due to be released for the Xbox 360.
Ori and the Blind Forest's individuality and artistic style may have ultimately served it well in standing out at E3 and kindling interest amongst gamers. The emotional undertones evident in its trailer and first ten minutes of gameplay is a clever hook that's been appearing in games like The Last Of Us and the trailer for Dead Island, which may have also drawn gamers in. In any case, Mahler noted that the studio is already considering new ideas for future games. Moon Studios' ability to make a profit with their first game will undoubtedly open doors for them in the future, either with Microsoft or other companies.
Ori and the Blind Forest also received positive reviews from critics and individual gamers alike because Moon Studios focused on three of the most important facets of a good game. It provided dazzling and unique visuals, solid platforming gameplay, and the game knew how to emotionally engage its audience. Hopefully, Moon Studios can continue to hone in on these aspects as it develops its next game.
Did you enjoy Ori and the Blind Forest? Are you looking forward to what Moon Studios creates next?
Ori and the Blind Forest is now available on PC and Xbox One, and is scheduled for release on the Xbox 360 later this year.