Lies of P: Many players tried the soulslike genre thanks to Xbox Game Pass

For years, there has been discussion about whether the Xbox Game Pass model is sustainable, both for Microsoft and for the studios that place their projects on the service. Recently, the person in charge of one of the pleasant surprises of 2023 spoke about the benefits of this program and day-one releases.

We refer to Lies of P, the acclaimed soulslike that debuted in September 2023. Although its original announcement raised doubts due to its artistic style reminiscent of Bloodborne, it managed to make a name for itself and received 2 nominations at The Game Awards 2023 for its beautiful visuals and RPG elements.

The project by NEOWIZ and Round8 hit stores in mid-September this year and was available day one on Xbox Game Pass. Was it the right choice? During a recent interview, director Jiwon Choi reflected on the importance of Microsoft's initiative in the project's launch and its reach.

Day-One Release of Lies of P

The video game industry is a highly competitive ecosystem, making standing out increasingly challenging. This is particularly true for new IPs looking to find their place.

In this regard, Jiwon Choi states that Xbox Game Pass is "one of the best options for us to put a game in the hands of a large community of players." Obviously, many people are likely to give a title a chance if it is available at no additional cost on a service.

Although reaching more players is one of the significant advantages of launching a game day one on Microsoft's program, the creative director acknowledges that the Xbox team also assisted in marketing, one of the most costly aspects of game marketing.

"The Xbox team conducted a wide range of marketing campaigns for Lies of P. I can't reveal the exact number here, but a large number of people played our game through Xbox Game Pass. I think both parties got very good results from this collaboration," highlighted Jiwon Choi in the discussion.

Lies of P is a success, and its story will continue

It is clear that the strategy of NEOWIZ and Round8 bore fruit. Lies of P sold 1 million copies within a month of its release. Its success will allow it to have a new DLC that will expand the narrative and possibly add innovations in the gameplay.

In addition, director Jiwon Choi revealed that Pinocho's soulslike will have a sequel, although he refrained from revealing more details about it.

But tell us, did you play this game through the subscription service? Let us hear from you in the comments.