The year 2026 has arrived, and as we eagerly anticipate the gaming landscape ahead, I had the privilege of speaking with Neowiz, the publisher behind the renowned Lies of P. In this exclusive email interview, Neowiz co-CEO Sean Kim and I delve into the past year's achievements and future plans.
The Rise of Neowiz: A Year of Surprises and Success
Kim reflects on 2025, a year that exceeded expectations. Despite initial concerns, Neowiz's bold bet on the talent and passion of their teams paid off handsomely. Lies of P's sales and positive reception solidified its place as an extraordinary new IP.
But the story doesn't end there. The Overture expansion brought a wave of new players, expanding the community and solidifying Lies of P's position as an emerging pillar franchise. This success was further recognized with prestigious awards, including the Golden Joystick and Lenovo 3D Juego awards, a testament to the game's critical and commercial acclaim.
Beyond Lies of P: Neowiz's Diverse Portfolio
Neowiz aims to consistently deliver successful IPs that engage and excite fans for years to come. Currently, they are developing over five new PC and console titles, collaborating with Western studios like Zakazane and Wolfeye to discover global IPs. Their lineup also includes third-party indie titles, such as the critically acclaimed Shape of Dreams and SANABI, developed by talented Korean teams.
Neowiz recently announced five unannounced games in development, including a highly anticipated sequel to Lies of P. So, how does Neowiz chart its path forward? Kim explains that their core strategy focuses on expanding and engaging their fanbase. They believe that a game's success lies in satisfying its fans, and thus, they carefully evaluate proposals based on market attractiveness, team capabilities, and long-term growth strategies.
The Future of Lies of P: A Sequel in the Works
While Kim couldn't share specific details about the Lies of P sequel, he assured us that the Round8 Studio team is fully committed to its development. With the DLC receiving widespread recognition and director Choi Ji-Won's confidence in their next project, fans can look forward to more exciting developments.
Overture's Impact: A Global Success
Neowiz and Round8 are grateful for the positive global reception of Overture. This release not only demonstrated the potential of Neowiz's franchise-driven IP strategy but also showcased the operational capabilities required for success in the global market. For Round8 Studio, Overture's success validated the competitiveness of the Lies of P IP on a worldwide scale, recognizing the team's creativity, dedication, and ambition.
Publishing Partnerships: A Focus on Growth and Success
When it comes to third-party partnerships, Neowiz looks beyond strong projects. They seek teams with long-term plans to grow their fanbase and build scalable IPs. In their partnership with Wolfeye, Neowiz saw the potential for their rich worlds to evolve into a franchise IP. Similarly, their collaboration with Zakazane was driven by confidence in their strong narrative foundation, which could lead to successful sequels.
The State of Gaming in 2025: A New Era
For Neowiz, 2025 was a year focused on solidifying their position in the global PC and console market. As the year draws to a close, Kim feels that a new era of gaming is upon us. Smaller teams are achieving remarkable results, such as their publishing relationship with Lizard Smoothie, whose debut title, Shape of Dreams, sold an impressive 500,000 copies in its first month. Neowiz aims to build on these successes and expand their publishing efforts in narrative-driven game development with developers worldwide.
Generative AI: A Tool for Productivity and Engagement
With generative AI being a hot topic this year, Neowiz is actively exploring its potential. Korea, reportedly one of the most active users of ChatGPT, has seen game companies embrace AI in various ways. For Neowiz, AI tools enhance internal publishing productivity by automating routine tasks and enabling expert teams to focus on refining core strategies with partners. By processing data faster, they can make more informed decisions to support developers and engage with their community.
The Rise of South Korea: A Shift Towards Consoles and PCs
South Korea's game development and publishing scene is evolving, with a noticeable shift towards consoles and PCs. Mobile remains a significant part of the market, but there seems to be a push towards triple-A projects on consoles and PCs. Kim agrees, attributing this shift to the intense competition in the mobile market, which has led traditionally mobile-focused companies to pivot towards PC and console development.
Neowiz's Mobile Presence: A Strong Pillar
Neowiz's mobile offerings are well-received globally, with live-service mobile games that resonate with players. They view their mobile business as an important pillar, with titles like Cats & Soup finding success in the Western market. Cats & Soup celebrated its fourth anniversary in August, recording over 60 million downloads last year, and the IP was expanded with the launch of Cats & Soup: Magic Recipe in April, developed by the original team.
Looking Ahead: Global Partnerships and Success
Neowiz is excited about the future, with a strong global publishing team across North America and Europe. They aim to build long-term partnerships with great teams worldwide, leveraging their Korean team's direct experience in the global success of Lies of P.
This email Q&A took place in December 2025, offering a glimpse into Neowiz's journey and vision for the future of gaming.
