Overview

Lies of P burst onto the scene in late 2023, marrying the timeless tragedy of Pinocchio with the unforgiving mechanics of the Soulslike genre. Its gritty reinterpretation of Carlo Collodi's tale, combined with meticulously crafted level design and a narrative steeped in moral ambiguity, struck a chord with both hardcore and mainstream audiences, propelling the title into the upper echelons of best‑selling new IPs for the year. The game's success was not merely a flash in the pan; it signaled a renewed appetite for story‑driven, high‑risk action RPGs at a time when the market has been dominated by live‑service shooters and expansive open‑world adventures.

In the months following its launch, Neowiz, the South‑Korean publisher behind the title, leveraged the momentum by expanding post‑launch support, rolling out free DLC, and fostering a vibrant modding community. This strategy mirrored the post‑release playbooks of genre stalwarts like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, where sustained content updates keep player engagement high and extend a game's commercial lifespan. Against this backdrop, the recent appearance of a trademark filing for "Wonders of O" at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) offers the first concrete hint that Neowiz intends to cement Lies of P as a franchise rather than a one‑off experiment.

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What Happened?

On 12 September, the EUIPO database listed two new trademark applications submitted by Neowiz, both under the enigmatic title "Wonders of O". The filings, which are publicly accessible, include standard classifications for video game software, merchandising, and related entertainment services, suggesting a full‑scale rollout rather than a mere side project. While the trademark documents themselves reveal no gameplay specifics, the choice of the letter "O"—a stark visual echo of the original "P"—has ignited a wave of speculation that the sequel may pivot around a new protagonist or perhaps a reimagined setting within the same macabre universe.

Neowiz has remained tight‑lipped, offering only a brief statement confirming that the filings are part of their routine brand protection process. Industry insiders, however, point to the timing: the trademark appears just ahead of the annual Game Developers Conference, a traditional launchpad for sequel teasers. Analysts are interpreting the move as a strategic pre‑emptive strike to lock down the intellectual property before competitors can stake a claim, a tactic reminiscent of Nintendo's aggressive trademark filings for upcoming Switch titles and Sony's early protection of PlayStation Studios projects. The lack of an official announcement leaves room for rumor, but the very act of filing signals intent and suggests that development is already well underway.

Analysis

From a market perspective, a sequel to Lies of P could reshape the competitive dynamics of the Soulslike niche, which has become increasingly crowded with entries ranging from indie experiments to AAA spectacles. The original's strong launch numbers—reportedly surpassing one million units within the first two months—provided Neowiz with a solid financial foundation to invest in a larger development team, potentially expanding beyond the modest studio that birthed the first game. If "Wonders of O" can deliver an evolution in combat depth, narrative complexity, and visual fidelity, it may force rivals such as FromSoftware and Bandai Namco to accelerate their own pipelines, sparking a renaissance of innovation in a genre that risks stagnation.

Technical considerations also loom large. Lies of P was built on the Unreal Engine 5, a choice that afforded the developers cutting‑edge lighting and world‑building tools but also required a steep learning curve for a relatively inexperienced team. Scaling up for a sequel will likely demand a more robust pipeline, higher fidelity assets, and possibly a shift toward multi‑platform optimization to capture both next‑gen console owners and the still‑lucrative PC market. Moreover, the growing expectation for seamless online components—such as asynchronous multiplayer or community‑driven challenges—could push Neowiz to integrate netcode solutions that were absent from the original, thereby increasing both development risk and potential reward.

XPLog Opinion

At XPLog UK, we view the "Wonders of O" trademark as a bold declaration that Neowiz is ready to transition from a surprise hit to a lasting franchise, and that ambition is exactly what the Soulslike community craves. The original title proved that there is still room for fresh mythologies within the genre’s rigid formula, and a sequel offers the chance to deepen that mythology while addressing the first game's shortcomings—namely, occasional pacing issues and limited end‑game content. Should Neowiz deliver a sequel that expands the narrative canvas and refines the combat loop, it could set a new benchmark for mid‑tier developers, proving that you don't need a decades‑long pedigree to compete with the genre’s heavyweights.

Final Thoughts

While concrete details remain scarce, the trademark filing for "Wonders of O" is a clear indicator that Neowiz is positioning Lies of P for longevity. Players should keep an eye on major industry events—particularly the upcoming Game Developers Conference and the PlayStation State of Play in early 2025—for the first official glimpse of what could become the next defining chapter in modern Soulslike design. Until then, the anticipation itself fuels community discourse, and that buzz may prove to be as valuable as the game’s eventual launch.