New leaks hint at the return of Xbox’s most visually stunning game series.

Speculation is heating up around the potential announcement of a new Ori game, sparked by insights from industry insider Nate the Hate on discussion forums.

Nate the Hate ignited the buzz with a post on X, hinting at “a neat Xbox announcement that should be at Gamescom.” As discussions unfolded on ResetEra, it became clear that a new installment in the Ori series, developed by a third-party studio, might be in the pipeline.

Jez Corden from Windows Central supported these rumors on his Patreon, stating that Xbox has some exciting announcements lined up for Gamescom this year, including “a pretty big surprise (probably very unexpected sequel) reveal.” He cautioned fans not to expect a sequel to the Banjo games, which only fueled further speculation. In a follow-up discussion, Nate revealed that he had heard about this potential sequel from several sources.

While Nate initially kept the series name under wraps, he later confirmed on ResetEra, “A new Ori is what I was referring to. I do not have confirmation whether it will or won’t be at Gamescom, yet.”

In another thread on ResetEra, user Kiri_Kis557 mentioned that they had heard an Ori game was being developed “by one of Saber Interactive’s divisions,” hinting at the studio behind the project. However, this information remains unverified, so if a new Ori game is indeed in development, it could come from a different studio.

For those who may not know, Moon Studios’ Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps are acclaimed Metroidvanias known for their stunning visuals, which still set a high bar in the gaming world. In a previous interview, Moon Studios indicated that they felt the story of Ori was complete for now and were focusing on a different project, No Rest for the Wicked. This hasn’t stopped Xbox from pursuing a new Ori game with another developer.

All eyes are currently on Gamescom Opening Night Live for this potential announcement, although even the leakers who hinted at the new Ori game aren’t entirely certain it will be showcased. However, with Nate the Hate suggesting a 2026 release could be on the horizon, it seems likely that Xbox will need to reveal more soon.

A beautiful game gets a smart sequel.