Game developers have been attempting to capture the essence of FromSoftware's Soulslike games for quite some time, spanning various genres from Sci-Fi to 2D, and even including games with lightsabers. However, in my opinion, 2023's Lies of P, a gritty reinterpretation of Pinocchio, stands out as the most unique. This unconventional concept combines fairytales with Bloodborne's gothic horror and remarkably succeeds.
To add to the excitement, the game is set to receive a substantial amount of new content, including a sequel. In a YouTube video message from game director Ji Won Choi, delivered on Halloween (appropriately spooky), fans of Lies of P were given two significant pieces of news regarding the game's future. Choi stated, "Our top priority is developing the DLC and working on our sequel," confirming the continued dedication of co-developers Neowiz Games and Round8 Studio to the world of Lies of P.
Although the live letter didn't provide a specific release timeline for the DLC or delve into its plot details, Ji Won Choi did share two pieces of concept art for the upcoming expansion. The first art piece portrays a laboratory, which appears to blend seamlessly with the gritty setting of the base game's central city, Krat.
The second concept art piece is more intriguing, featuring a sailing ship on the water with Pinocchio aboard. Without official information, we can only speculate about its significance, but it could be related to Peter Pan. While it may seem unconventional to incorporate a journey to Neverland into a game centered around Pinocchio, it's not entirely beyond the realm of possibility.
The confirmation of a sequel, while lacking specific details about its timeline or premise, may bring to mind Lies of P's post-credits scene, which hints at the direction the next main installment of the game might take. In this scene, a mysterious figure discusses with an unseen comrade the events of the base game and the potential that Pinocchio may hold one of several keys to immortality.
In the post-credits scene, the mysterious figure unveils the existence of other keys and mentions his intent to embark on a journey to find the next key, a woman named Dorothy. The camera then focuses on a copy of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and transitions to a woman in red ruby slippers walking across the rooftops of Krat.
This strongly implies that Pinocchio is just the starting point for the Lies of P developers, and the franchise seems to be evolving into an expanded universe that will incorporate well-known public domain characters in future content. Dorothy is one such character, and there's potential for others like J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan to be part of this narrative. This indirect connection raises the possibility that the DLC might somehow link to Neverland.
We'll need to await more official details to gain a clearer understanding of what Lies of P's DLC and sequel have in store. Nevertheless, it's evident that Pinocchio is merely the beginning of the story.
Lies of P is currently available on PlayStation, Xbox, Game Pass, and PC.
