The success of Lies of P has created an unusual challenge for its developers. After turning a dark reinterpretation of Pinocchio into one of the most praised Soulslike games outside FromSoftware's catalog, the team now has to figure out how to make its next project even better.

Nearly three years after the original game's 2023 release, members of the development team have spoken openly about the expectations surrounding the upcoming Lies of P sequel and how success has changed their approach to development.

Success Has Changed the Starting Point

When development on the original Lies of P began, the team was effectively working from a blank page.

There was no established franchise identity to protect and no previous game setting a benchmark for what the developers had to achieve. That gave the studio room to experiment with its dark Belle Époque setting, challenging combat and its unusual interpretation of the Pinocchio story.

Narrative director Kwon Byungsoo explained that the situation is very different today. Instead of wondering how far the team can push a new idea, Lies of P itself has now become the foundation that everything moving forward will be measured against.

That creates a much higher bar.

The original game received significant praise and awards, meaning the developers are no longer trying simply to prove that the concept can work. They now have to convince players that the franchise can evolve beyond its successful debut.

The Team Feels the Pressure

Members of the studio have not attempted to hide the pressure surrounding the sequel.

Kwon explained that receiving recognition for the first game changed the team's mentality. Moments that once felt like distant ambitions have now become expectations, and the question inside the studio has shifted toward how much further the next game can go.

Art lead Cha Byungjun also acknowledged that pressure, but said the team is trying not to let it dominate development.

Instead, the developers are attempting to return to the same mindset that guided them while creating the original Lies of P: focusing on the game itself rather than allowing expectations to dictate every decision.

Repeating the Formula Will Not Be Enough

That challenge is especially important because Lies of P did more than simply imitate FromSoftware's games.

While its Soulslike influences were immediately recognizable, the game established its own identity through systems such as weapon assembly, the Legion Arm, perfect guarding and a distinctive world inspired by classic literature.

A sequel therefore has to find a careful balance.

Changing too much could risk losing the elements players enjoyed in the original, but remaining too close to the existing formula could make the sequel feel predictable.

The real challenge for the developers is finding new ideas that can expand the experience while preserving the identity that made Lies of P successful in the first place.

The Developers Want to Push Further

Game director Choi Juwon says the ambition within the team has only grown.

During development of the first game, the studio was driven by excitement over what the project could eventually become. Now, the team is approaching the next project with a different question: how can they improve on something that already exceeded many expectations?

According to Choi, developers across the team are thinking seriously about that challenge, creating an even stronger desire to push themselves further with the next game.

That attitude suggests the sequel is unlikely to be treated as a simple continuation designed to capitalize on the popularity of the original.

Instead, the studio appears determined to make meaningful improvements.

Expectations Are Higher After Lies of P: Overture

The pressure surrounding the sequel has also increased following the continued development of the franchise.

The Lies of P: Overture expansion was treated by the developers almost like a new project rather than a small piece of additional content, with director Choi Ji-won previously promising that the team would continue trying to deliver the most enjoyable experience possible.

That means players have now seen the studio refine the original game after launch, placing even greater expectations on whatever comes next.

What Comes Next for Lies of P?

A full sequel to Lies of P has already been confirmed, although the developers have yet to reveal its complete gameplay direction or release date.

Recent speculation has also connected a Neowiz trademark for Wonders of O with the upcoming project, particularly because the ending of the original game teased elements associated with The Wizard of Oz. However, the exact identity and direction of the sequel remain unconfirmed.

For now, the most important takeaway is the mindset of the development team.

Lies of P is no longer an unproven experiment. It has become the standard the developers themselves must exceed.

And while that success has brought additional pressure, the studio appears determined to use it as motivation to make the next chapter more ambitious rather than simply repeating what already worked.