Game Informer sat down with Neowiz co-CEO Sean Kim for an extensive email interview published January 5, 2026, and buried in discussions about 2025 performance and generative AI was a bombshell: the publisher behind Lies of P is currently developing five unannounced games for PC and console, ranging from the Lies of P sequel everyone expected to narrative RPGs, life simulation games, and more genres they refuse to specify. For a studio that was struggling to forecast whether their Pinocchio soulslike would even be financially viable, that’s quite the pivot.
The 2025 Nobody Saw Coming
Kim opens the interview by admitting Neowiz had concerns going into 2025, which makes sense given that Lies of P launched in September 2023. Publishers typically see their biggest revenue spikes around launch windows, and maintaining momentum two years later is challenging. But 2025 ultimately delivered results that exceeded expectations, driven largely by the Overture expansion that released in 2024.
Here’s what makes that success particularly significant: Neowiz bet heavily on Lies of P without being able to accurately forecast its financial performance. They knew they had developed something extraordinary based on the skill and passion of their teams, but translating creative quality into sales projections is always a gamble. The gamble paid off spectacularly, with strong sales numbers and positive sentiment that extended well beyond the typical launch honeymoon period.
Overture specifically brought in a wave of new players rather than just serving existing fans, which is the holy grail for expansion content. Many DLC releases primarily monetize the existing player base without substantially growing the community. The fact that Overture attracted newcomers to the base game solidified Lies of P as what Kim calls “an emerging pillar franchise” for Neowiz moving forward.
Awards That Actually Matter
Lies of P and its Overture expansion won the Golden Joystick Award and the Lenovo 3D Juego Award in 2025, competing against what Kim describes as “a stacked field of competitors.” These aren’t vanity awards that publishers buy through marketing campaigns. Golden Joystick is fan-voted, representing actual player sentiment rather than industry insider opinions.
The combination of commercial success and critical acclaim created what Kim describes as both personally gratifying and financially fruitful, which is refreshingly honest. Most executives focus purely on financials in public statements. Acknowledging that the awards validation mattered on a personal level humanizes the experience and recognizes that creative teams care about recognition beyond just hitting revenue targets.
Five Games and Zero Details
When asked what Neowiz is working on beyond Lies of P, Kim reveals the company has more than five new titles in development for PC and console while also seeking global IP partnerships with Western studios like Zakazane and Wolfeye. That’s a massive expansion for a publisher that was previously most associated with mobile titles like Cats & Soup before pivoting hard toward premium console experiences.
The five games span multiple genres including the Lies of P sequel, a narrative-based RPG, life simulation, and others that remain unspecified. Kim emphasizes that Neowiz doesn’t pursue genres strategically as much as they evaluate creative visions from directors. The process starts with someone’s vision rather than market analysis deciding “we need a battle royale” or whatever genre happens to be trending.
That philosophy explains why Lies of P worked despite the soulslike genre being dominated by FromSoftware. Round8 Studio had a specific creative vision for a dark Victorian fairy tale interpretation of Pinocchio that happened to fit soulslike mechanics, rather than cynically chasing the Dark Souls audience. That authenticity resonated with players in ways that pure market-chasing rarely achieves.
The Lies of P Sequel Status
Kim is predictably tight-lipped about the Lies of P sequel, stating there’s nothing specific they can share in detail. However, he confirms that Round8 Studio is excited about their work and fully focused on development. This suggests the project is well past the conceptual stage and into active production, though how far along remains unclear.
The success of Overture was particularly validating for Round8 Studio, demonstrating that the Lies of P IP can compete on a worldwide stage. That validation matters because sophomore efforts after breakout hits carry enormous pressure. Everyone questions whether the success was lightning in a bottle or proof of sustainable talent. Overture’s performance suggests Round8 can deliver consistently rather than being a one-hit wonder.
Western Studio Partnerships
Beyond internal development, Neowiz is pursuing partnerships with Western studios including Zakazane and Wolfeye Studios. The latter was founded by Raphael Colantonio and Julien Roby, veterans of Arkane Studios responsible for Dishonored and Prey. Wolfeye’s debut title Weird West released in 2022 to solid reviews, and their partnership with Neowiz positions them for potentially bigger projects.
Kim explains that Neowiz evaluates publishing partnerships based on world-building capability and narrative depth. With Wolfeye, they saw world-building that felt like the start of a massive franchise. With Zakazane, the narrative was so compelling they immediately recognized potential for long-term sequels. This suggests Neowiz is thinking multi-game franchises rather than one-off publishing deals.
The shift toward Western partnerships makes strategic sense for a Korean publisher trying to establish itself globally. While Korean developers have dominated mobile gaming and made inroads with MMOs, premium single-player console experiences remain dominated by Western and Japanese studios. Partnering with established Western talent gives Neowiz credibility and expertise they’re still building internally.
The Genre Strategy That Isn’t
When discussing how Neowiz charts its release path, Kim emphasizes they don’t fixate on genres or play styles first. Instead, development begins with creative visions from directors that the company evaluates based on three criteria: Is the genre attractive considering market size and competition? Can they assemble a team capable of delivering high quality? Is there a long-term strategy for growing the fanbase?
Neowiz regularly revisits ongoing projects using these same criteria to ensure alignment with their strategy, which centers on “content plus fans.” Kim defines IP as exactly that formula, arguing that no matter how much effort goes into great content, a game can’t be called great if it fails to satisfy its fans. That philosophy explains why they measure success through both sales figures and sentiment.
This approach contrasts sharply with publishers who chase trends or mandate specific genres based on market analysis. Neowiz’s strategy trusts creative directors to identify what they’re passionate about building, then evaluates whether the company can support that vision effectively. It’s a risky approach that requires saying no to potentially profitable ideas that don’t fit, but when it works it produces genuinely distinctive games.
The Generative AI Question
When asked about generative AI’s place within Neowiz, Kim provides a measured response that avoids both the enthusiastic embrace and complete rejection seen elsewhere in the industry. He acknowledges AI tools exist and can assist development, but emphasizes that quality creative vision and execution remain fundamentally human endeavors that technology supports rather than replaces.
This balanced perspective reflects the reality that most studios use AI tools for specific tasks like generating placeholder assets, automating QA testing, or assisting with localization, while keeping core creative decisions firmly in human hands. The controversial applications involve replacing artists and writers entirely, which Kim’s comments suggest Neowiz isn’t pursuing despite having the tools available.
Mobile Isn’t Dead
Despite the heavy focus on PC and console, Kim emphasizes that mobile remains an important pillar of Neowiz’s business. Their cozy game Cats & Soup celebrated its fourth anniversary in August 2025 with over 60 million downloads. They expanded the IP with Cats & Soup: Magic Recipe in April 2025, demonstrating sustained investment in mobile properties.
The success of Cats & Soup specifically with Western consumers matters because mobile gaming in the West has struggled with monetization compared to Asian markets. Finding a formula that resonates with Western players without aggressive monetization creates sustainable revenue streams that fund riskier premium console projects. The mobile business essentially subsidizes experimentation on other platforms.
Smaller Teams Making Big Impacts
Kim notes that 2025 felt like the start of a new era where smaller teams achieved strong results. He specifically mentions Neowiz’s publishing relationship with Lizard Smoothie, whose debut title Shape of Dreams sold 500,000 copies in its first month. The team remains dedicated to delivering the best experience for their community, which Kim sees as validation of their publishing philosophy.
This observation aligns with broader industry trends where AA and indie games increasingly compete with AAA blockbusters. Development costs for massive open-world games have spiraled to unsustainable levels, creating opportunities for smaller teams with focused visions to deliver satisfying experiences at fraction of the budget. Publishers like Neowiz that can identify and support these teams position themselves well for the future.
FAQs About Neowiz and Lies of P
How many games is Neowiz currently developing?
Neowiz co-CEO Sean Kim revealed the company has more than five new titles in development for PC and console, spanning genres including the Lies of P sequel, narrative RPGs, life simulation games, and unspecified others.
When will the Lies of P sequel release?
No release window has been announced. Kim confirmed that Round8 Studio is excited about the project and fully focused on development, but provided no specific details about progress or timing.
How did Lies of P perform in 2025?
The game exceeded Neowiz’s expectations in 2025, driven largely by the Overture expansion bringing in new players. The combination of strong sales and positive sentiment solidified Lies of P as an emerging pillar franchise for the publisher.
What Western studios is Neowiz partnering with?
Neowiz is partnering with Zakazane and Wolfeye Studios (founded by Dishonored and Prey veterans Raphael Colantonio and Julien Roby) to develop global IP with potential for long-term franchise development.
Is Neowiz still focused on mobile games?
Yes, mobile remains an important business pillar for Neowiz. Their game Cats & Soup reached 60 million downloads and celebrated its fourth anniversary in 2025, with the expanded IP Cats & Soup: Magic Recipe launching in April.
How does Neowiz choose which games to publish?
Neowiz evaluates projects based on genre attractiveness, team capability to deliver high quality, and long-term strategies for growing fanbases. They prioritize creative director visions over chasing specific genres strategically.
What awards did Lies of P win in 2025?
Lies of P and the Overture expansion won the Golden Joystick Award and the Lenovo 3D Juego Award in 2025, competing against strong competition in both categories.
What is Neowiz’s stance on generative AI?
Kim provided a measured response acknowledging AI tools can assist development, but emphasized quality creative vision and execution remain fundamentally human endeavors that technology supports rather than replaces.
Conclusion
The Game Informer interview with Neowiz co-CEO Sean Kim reveals a publisher at an inflection point, transitioning from mobile-first to a multi-platform strategy built around premium PC and console experiences. The success of Lies of P provided both the financial resources and confidence to expand aggressively, with five unannounced games in development and strategic partnerships with Western studios bringing established talent into the fold. What’s refreshing about Kim’s approach is the emphasis on creative vision over market-chasing, trusting directors to identify what they’re passionate about building rather than mandating genres based on trend analysis. That philosophy produced Lies of P, a soulslike that stood out in a crowded field by having something distinctive to say rather than merely copying FromSoftware’s homework. Whether Neowiz can scale that approach across five simultaneous projects while maintaining quality remains the big question. Publishers that grow too quickly often dilute their identity and spread resources too thin, leading to mediocre releases that damage hard-earned reputations. But if they apply the same discipline to these new projects that they brought to Lies of P, carefully evaluating whether they can assemble capable teams and support long-term franchise building, the five mystery games could establish Neowiz as a legitimate player in the global premium gaming market. We’ll find out soon enough whether they’re overextending or genuinely building something sustainable. Either way, it’s been fascinating watching a Korean publisher traditionally associated with mobile pivot so dramatically toward the kind of premium single-player experiences that Western and Japanese studios have dominated for decades.