In the five years since its initial launch,Ori and the Blind Foresthas become a must-play indie gem and one of the highlights of the current console generation. With the long-awaited sequel,Ori and the Will of the Wisps, finallyjust a few days away from launch, console gamers who have avoided purchasing an Xbox One up until this point may be wondering how long it will be until they can get their hands on the game metroidvania platformer.
It’s no secret that during the current console generation, Microsoft hasn’t had the strongest showing when it comes toconsole exclusivity. While Nintendo has been pumping out fan-favorite IPs likeSuper Smash Bros,Breath of the Wild, andPokemonand PS4 delivering must-play games likeSpider-Man,God of War, and Horizon: Zero Dawn; the Xbox One has been trying to keep up with Halo,Gears of Warand some must-play smaller games like the originalOri.
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Ori and the Blind Forestlaunched in 2015 as anXbox One and Windows exclusive game. The title was immediately praised as a massive hit by many gamers and earned some incredibly positive review scores, which left PS4 and Switch Owners feeling a bit left out in the coming years. Although most people have access to a gaming PC at this point, even if they don’t own an Xbox One, those who don’t own either were locked out of the game until a surprise release on the Nintendo Switch.
“In the late summer/early fall of 2019,Ori and the Blind Forestfinally made its way to another console with a Nintendo Switch port. Despite arriving four years after the game’s initial launch, it was still a welcome addition to the Switch digital storefront and offered a new, portable way to experience the heartbreaking adventures of Ori and Sein. The late arrival of Ori and the Blind Forest on the Nintendo Switch has left many gamers wondering if the sequel, which has currently only been announced for Xbox One and PC, will also make its way to other platforms on a delayed schedule.
First up, we announced that players around the world can pre-orderOri and the Will of the Wispsstarting today ahead of the game’s worldwide release on Xbox One, Windows 10 PC, Steam, and day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Additionally, we announcedOri and the Will of the Wispshas a new release date of March 11th, 2020. Microsoft and Moon Studios are taking the extra time to ensure that Ori fans get the best gameplay experience possible.”
Let’s start with the PS4. At this point, it seems highly unlikely thatOri and the Will of the Wispswill eventually receive a PS4 (or PS5) port anytime in the near future. There are still no plans to bring the original game to the PS4, which seems to suggest that a release of the sequel is also pretty unlikely.
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The Nintendo Switch could be a different story though. For now, Microsoft has not announced any plans to releaseOri and the Will of the Wispson the Nintendo Switch. Gamers should expect the platformer’s sequel to be available only on PC and Xbox One (and probablySeries X) for the foreseeable future. That said, the port of the original game to the Nintendo Switch does seem to suggest that there’s the possibility of the sequel also arriving on the Switch sometime in the coming years.
For now, gamers who want to playOri and the Will of the Wispssometime in the months after its launch should definitely find a way to access the game on either a PC or an Xbox One. With the game just a week or so away from launch, it will be very exciting to see if it ends up being as beloved as the original and becomes an early game of the year contender. If that does end up being the case, consumers will likely be more inclined to find an affordable way to get their hands on the game even if they aren’t usually a Microsoft fan. As Nintendo gamers finish the original game and get sucked into the world of Nibel, it will be interesting to see how many Switch owners make the jump over to PC, or even to an Xbox One, to get their hands on the sequel shortly after it is released.
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With next-gen consoles less than a year away, it will be interesting to see how the release of a highly-anticipated game like Ori and the Will of the Wisps impacts hardware sales (if at all). There will be similar questions about PS4 sales in the coming months as massive games likeThe Last of Us 2,Final Fantasy 7 Remake(which just released a new demo), andGhost Of Tsushimabegin to arrive. Although most gamers who don’t already own all the current gen consoles will likely want to hold out for the coming tech, it seems like there will likely be some pretty tempting sales as Microsoft and Sony prepare to move some Xbox One and PS4 stock before the holidays.
Be sure to check back in the near future for moreOri and the Will of the Wispsnews, updates, and strategy guides.
Ori and the Will of the Wispsreleases on March 11 for PC and Xbox One.
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