Last year, Neowiz’s Lies of P earned critical acclaim. Players and critics praised the game for executing the Soulslike genre and reimagining Pinocchio’s original story. A year after its release, the team has no plans to stop.
Recently, the director and the rest of Neowiz announced that the first DLC for the game would arrive while its sequel and a new project were on the way. Given this world’s potential and Neowiz’s talents, many possibilities are ahead. Here is a breakdown of the Lies of P franchise’s future.
Lies of P DLC Approaching
According to Video Game Chronicle, Neowiz made a massive announcement regarding their hit game Lies of P and other upcoming projects from their team. They announced that the first DLC for the game would arrive in the first quarter of 2025. Earlier this year, Neowiz teased the DLC with a vague image of a lighthouse and a new soundtrack. While the DLC remains mysterious, fans can expect more info shortly.
While there are many theories, one thing fans can expect is a boost in difficulty. Usually, Soulslike DLC, such as Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, is meant for veteran players and has the most challenging bosses and areas. With a year to hone their skills, players are in for a test. Furthermore, they confirmed the sequel was in development. Additionally, players can expect several shocking revelations regarding the lore.
Lies of P‘s post-credit scene heavily implied that the DLC would be based on L Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz, creating a shared universe based on classic public domain stories. In the same article, director Jiwon Choi declared his plans to improve what worked and build upon their formula. Finally, the article confirmed that Neowiz was working on a “sci-fi survival horror” project.
The New Soulslike
For those unaware, Lies of P is a new “Soulslike” from the Korean developer Neowiz. Directed by Jiwon Choi, the game occurs in the steampunk city of Krat after its robot workers revolt. Now, robot P must navigate the derelict city to find answers. The game retold Carlo Collodi’s iconic children’s novel Pinocchio, cleverly turning every character into an NPC or fierce boss fight. Interestingly, the game was released barely a year after Disney and Netflix released competing adaptations of the same story.
Furthermore, the game was praised for capturing the magic of Fromsoft’s iconic Soulsborne franchise. Not only did the game capture the series’ difficulty, but its variable strategies and atmosphere. While many imitators, such as Lords of the Fallen, tried and failed to capitalize on the series, Lies of P became one of the best spiritual successors. Furthermore, its steampunk setting allows it to create a more unique experience from its inspiration.
Creating A New Series
Neowiz and Round 8 Studios are relative newcomers as teams. Before their rise in 2023, their biggest work was on the short-lived MMO Bless Unleashed. As such, creating a game as impressive as Lies of P as one of their first big independent projects is a tremendous start. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a new, respected studio. While working on a DLC and a sequel simultaneously sounds like a monumental task, it shows Neowiz’s determination.
As stated above, Neowiz confirmed they were working on an unnamed sci-fi survival horror game. Given this project’s distance, it could be long before fans get their first look. However, given their previous project’s understanding of sci-fi subgenres and ominous atmosphere, the game is in the right hands.
Conclusion
Neowiz’s huge announcement demonstrates how support from skilled creators and gamers can help original titles rise. While Fromsoft’s series set a high standard for what a “Soulslike” should be, Lies of P showed how other studios can further refine the formula.
With so many new projects on the way from this rising studio, players can expect even more classics to be added. In an age when so many older studios are going under due to layoffs, it’s refreshing to see new talent take their place. Finally, the game’s success has opened up many gamers worldwide to the world of Korea’s vast library of titles.
