The development of the sequel, "Lies of P 2," has officially left the prototype phase and is now in full-scale production. Following the massive success of the original, which sold over seven million copies, developer Neowiz is relying on state-of-the-art technology and new design approaches for the sequel.
Technological leap and open-world rumors
The switch to Unreal Engine 5 is the most important technical decision for the project. While its predecessor, running on Unreal Engine 4, boasted extremely smooth performance and crisp art design, the upgrade promises significantly more advanced lighting and more detailed environments. This engine choice supports recent reports that Neowiz intends to replace the rather linear levels of the first game with a more open world structure.
An open-world approach would be a huge risk for the team. The strength of "Lies of P" lay in its precise control over pacing and boss encounters. An open world requires a completely different balancing of enemy perception and movement patterns. Neowiz has to prove that they can transfer the dense atmosphere of Krat to larger areas without diluting the gameplay intensity.
Why the sequel is now picking up speed
The current financial report Neowiz makes it clear that the franchise has become the company's most important pillar. Revenue from the main game and the upcoming DLC has cleared the way for full production of the sequel. The studio is planning for the long term and wants to establish Lies of P as a global brand. The fact that the prototype passed internal testing so quickly speaks to the team's clear vision.
The mechanics surrounding the weapon system and precise parrying are likely to remain the foundation, while the world around them expands massively. The focus now is on maintaining the gameplay identity while simultaneously reaching the scale of a AAA blockbuster.
The signs point to expansion. The switch to Unreal Engine 5 and the potential opening up of the world are precisely the steps one would expect from a successful sequel. Nevertheless, skepticism remains as to whether the team can maintain the tightness of the combat system within a more open structure. This won't be a small sequel, but a technical heavyweight.
Do you think that "Lies of P 2" needs an open world, or was the linear, focused level design the game's greatest strength?
