The creative minds behind the critically acclaimed soulslike title Lies of P have officially confirmed that development of a full sequel is well underway. South Korean studio NEOWIZ and its development team Round8 Studio have announced they are dedicating all available resources to creating Lies of P 2, with the highly anticipated follow-up being built on the latest version of Unreal Engine 5. This news has sent waves of excitement through the gaming community, as fans eagerly await the next chapter in this dark reimagining of the classic Pinocchio tale.
The Original Game’s Remarkable Success Story
Lies of P burst onto the gaming scene in September 2023 and quickly established itself as one of the most impressive soulslike games outside of FromSoftware’s legendary catalog. The game reimagined Carlo Collodi’s beloved children’s story as a dark, gothic action RPG set in the fictional city of Krat, a Belle Époque-inspired metropolis overrun by malfunctioning puppets and mysterious plague. Players took on the role of a puppet named P, journeying to become human while facing brutal challenges reminiscent of the Dark Souls and Bloodborne franchises. The game received widespread critical praise for its atmospheric world design, challenging combat mechanics, and innovative lying system that affected the narrative outcome.
The commercial performance of Lies of P exceeded all expectations, with NEOWIZ reporting that the game sold over one million copies within its first month of release. By early 2024, sales had climbed significantly higher, cementing the title as a major success for the Korean publisher. The game’s achievement is particularly noteworthy given the competitive landscape of the soulslike genre, where FromSoftware has long dominated. Lies of P proved that other studios could successfully compete in this space while bringing fresh creative perspectives to the formula.
Why Unreal Engine 5 Matters for the Sequel
The decision to develop Lies of P 2 on the newest iteration of Unreal Engine 5 represents a significant technical upgrade from the original game, which was built on Unreal Engine 4. Epic Games’ latest engine technology brings revolutionary features including Nanite virtualized geometry, which allows for unprecedented levels of detail in game environments, and Lumen, a fully dynamic global illumination system that creates realistic lighting in real-time. For a game that relies heavily on atmospheric horror and intricate Victorian-era architecture, these technological advancements could dramatically enhance the visual fidelity and immersion of the sequel.
Industry analysts suggest that the transition to Unreal Engine 5 will allow Round8 Studio to create more expansive and detailed environments while potentially improving performance optimization. The engine’s MetaHuman technology and advanced animation systems could also bring more lifelike character expressions and movements to the puppet-filled world of Lies of P 2. Given that the original game was already visually impressive, expectations for the sequel’s graphical presentation are exceptionally high among fans and critics alike.
What Fans Can Expect From the Sequel
While specific plot details remain under wraps, the multiple endings of the original Lies of P provide several potential narrative directions for the sequel to explore. The game’s conclusion left numerous mysteries unsolved and character arcs incomplete, giving developers ample creative territory to expand upon. Community speculation suggests the sequel might delve deeper into the origins of the Ergo technology, the nature of the Petrification Disease, or potentially explore entirely new locations within the game’s fascinating universe.
NEOWIZ has indicated their commitment to listening to community feedback, suggesting that gameplay improvements addressing criticisms of the original—such as weapon durability mechanics and certain boss difficulty spikes—may be refined in the sequel. The studio’s transparent communication with fans and dedication to post-launch support for the original game has built considerable goodwill within the gaming community. With no official release window announced yet, Lies of P 2 remains one of the most anticipated upcoming titles in the action RPG genre, promising to build upon the solid foundation established by its predecessor while leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver an even more immersive experience.
Expert Opinion: The development of Lies of P 2 on Unreal Engine 5 signals NEOWIZ’s ambition to compete directly with industry giants in the premium gaming space. Given the original’s commercial success and the technical capabilities of UE5, we can expect a release window sometime in 2026-2027, likely targeting next-generation console optimization. This sequel could potentially establish Lies of P as a lasting franchise capable of rivaling established soulslike series in both quality and commercial appeal.
