One of the biggest barriers to jumping into the current generation for PlayStation players has been the rising cost of living, squeezing wallets so tight that there’s sadly been no room for a PS5 in the budget.
Editor’s Note: Brought to you in partnership with PlayStation.
PS5 Astro Bot Bundle – Save £109.99
For those almost ready to pull the trigger on buying a PlayStation 5, but have been waiting for a price drop, buying the Astro Bot bundle is the best way to get on board in more ways than one.
Whichever you go for, those prices are £109.99 lower than if you bought each console and the game individually, which you can put towards more games, another DualSense controller, or leave nestled safely in your savings account.
The delightfully beloved platformer that won Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2024, Astro Bot is arguably one of the best titles to have bundled with a new console if you haven’t had the chance to play it yet.
Since it’s a PEGI 7-rated celebration of PlayStation’s history & a fun adventure in its own right, it’s one of the finest for any gaming household, whether to play yourself or with the children in your family.
An Extra £50 Trading In A PS4 Console
Although trading in your PS4 to put towards a PS5 or PS5 Pro has been an option already, PlayStation is offering an extra £50 on top of what you would normally get for your old console, going as high as £150.
At PlayStation’s Trade-In hub page, you can quickly get your PS4 evaluated, ship your console over free of charge, and receive an added £50 voucher along with what you would get for the trade-in as standard.
For example, you could get £100 for a PS4 Pro in good condition and £50 with the trade-up voucher, totalling £150 off a £339.99 PS5 Digital Console & Astro Bot bundle, leaving you with only £189.99 left to pay for your shiny new PlayStation 5 console and added game to get you started.
If you already have a PS5, but your old PS4 has since been going unused and gathering dust, you can still send in your PlayStation 4 in and put your boosted trade-in money towards a PS VR2 headset—so you can jump into exclusive games like Horizon Call of the Mountain for a more affordable price.
Lease a PS5 with PlayStation Flex
For you who want to dive into the PS5 ecosystem but don’t have the immediate funds to do so, PlayStation Flex is the console-maker’s new interesting way to add a PS5 to your home for as low as a mere £10.99 a month.
This is thanks to PlayStation UK’s new partnership with Raylo, a top tech leasing service that has been on the service and earning high Trustpilot reviews since 2019.
Through the new PlayStation Flex page powered by Raylo, you can effectively set up a rental agreement and have a PS5 Pro, PS5 Slim, or PS5 Digital Edition delivered to your door. Including those consoles, you can also lease a PSVR 2 and some accessories too:
Playstation 5 Pro consoles – from £18.95 a month
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (with extra DualSense Controller) – from 13.95 a month
PlayStation 5 Console (Slim with Disc Drive) – from £11.99 a month
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – from £10.99 a month
PlayStation Portal Remote Player – from £6.49 a month
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition & Astro Bot Bundle – from £11.49 a month
PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle – from £12.95 a month
DualSense Edge Wireless Controller – from £7.99 a month
You can choose a 36-, 24-, 12- or rolling monthly lease with payments being lower the longer you sign up for. No matter which way, PlayStation Flex can make for a quick and easy barrier to entry to start your PS5 journey.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
MicroProse or whatever currently prospers under the decades-old MicroProse banner have announced that they’re publishing Strategos, a real-time tactics wargame set in classical antiquity. I hadn’t heard of the game before, and my first reaction to the above screenshot was “oh hey, Total War: Rome”. Then I veni, vidi, vickied on over to the Steam page, and it turns out that might be a flawed comparison, not least because Strategos is the creation of a single designer and programmer with artists working on contract. Here’s a trailer.
Ahead of the hotly anticipated Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, two former employees of the company have expressed concern about Mario Kart 9’s ability to convince people to upgrade to Switch 2.
Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 with a brief look at the new Mario Kart game, which gave us an idea of what to expect from what is likely a launch title.
There’s a huge deal of excitement around Mario Kart 9 and the Switch 2, but in a video published to their YouTube channel, former Nintendo PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang questioned Nintendo’s ability to out-d the all-conquering Mario Kart 8.
“Everybody has the expectation, ‘oh my gosh Mario Kart it’s a slam dunk, it’s a system seller, this is definitely the right game to put in front of this new system,’ but I think you’re right because if you look at the situation of Mario Kart up to this point, it’s a little bit different than what has been in the past and I’m not sure that transition for Nintendo or for the people who have been playing Mario Kart, I’m not sure that’s the slam dunk that people think it is.”
Ellis and Yang’s point here is that Mario Kart 8 and the Switch version, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, have been so successful for so long, that Nintendo faces an uphill battle convincing the mainstream Nintendo audience to upgrade, especially if they’re having to hand over at least $400 on a Switch 2 to do so.
Nintendo is, they believe, a victim of its own success here. Mario Kart 8 has sold an incredible 67.35 million copies on Nintendo Switch, which itself is the second best-selling console of all time with 150.86 units shifted. Pretty much everyone with a Switch has Mario Kart 8 at this point, and while it isn’t part of the video game zeitgeist, it is about as perfect a Mario Kart game as can be expected.
How does Nintendo top Mario Kart 8 and 67 million sales, then? Ellis and Yang believe Nintendo may struggle to do so, which is bad news for a company that always wants to see the numbers go up.
“It’s a bit unconventional to have a game coming out that’s probably going to be the premier launch title for your new console to have this kind of history,” Yang said.
“This is very unlike Nintendo. Usually when they have a launch title, like Breath of the Wild for example, it’s like this new game-breaking, genre-bending thing that’s never been seen before, and that’s what’s going to make you want to buy the new hardware.
“But we’re kind of in a bit of a different situation with Mario Kart and honestly it’s because of how successful Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been for Nintendo.”
The question now is whether Nintendo has done enough with Mario Kart 9 to convince existing Switch owners to upgrade. While there are plenty of familiar vehicles and faces in the Mario Kart 9 footage we’ve seen so far, there’s also a new track and some interesting details that suggest a new twist on the established formula. The most prominent theory posed by the community so far is that this may be the Mario Kart entry that finally takes the series open world.
Undoubtedly, the pressure is on Nintendo to deliver. “How is Nintendo going to convince me that I want to get the new Mario Kart?” Yang wondered. “That I need a Switch 2 to get the new Mario Kart?”
Ellis added: “I do think there are going to be some people who ask themselves, ‘I’m pretty happy with the Mario Kart I’ve been playing,’ and… Mom: ‘hey kids, we have Mario Kart at home…’ like, looking at this box and be like, ‘hmm, I’m not sure we need this Timmy.’
“I have no doubt this is going to be an incredible game. I have no doubt that every Mario Kart sells well. But in terms of the hill that this one in particular has to get over… This is Nintendo’s goal. This is always their goal: ‘we have to do better than the last one.’
“It’s like, well are you really going to do better than 75 million? And it’s the same question with the Switch 2. It’s like, ‘oh you just did the best-selling console ever.’ It’s just these goals that they have for themselves are going to be incredibly hard to match.”
Ellis said that because of how extensive Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is already with the sheer number of tracks and characters already available, Nintendo can’t use the same messaging with Mario Kart 9 that it did with Mario Kart 8. Nintendo needs, according to Ellis, find a new angle to differentiate Mario Kart this time around.
The pair also called into question Mario Kart 9’s visuals as being significantly improved on Mario Kart 8, saying that in graphics terms “it’s not really blowing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe away.”
“I could probably play that for another 10 years and still think it looks okay,” Ellis said of Mario Kart 8.
“Its positives is also its downfall,” Yang added.
We’ll find out hat Nintendo has up its sleeve for Mario Kart 9 soon enough, of course, during the Nintendo Direct on April 2. In the shorter term, Nintendo is set to host a Nintendo Direct focused entirely on the existing Nintendo Switch today, March 27.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
We Nintendo fans felt a bit like that Squidward looking out the window meme when Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched on PC, Xbox and PS5 last week. Sure, a game the size of Ubisoft’s latest was never going to end up on Switch, but that doesn’t mean we have to rule out all Nintendo consoles.
Yes, the mighty 3DS has struck once again. After we saw it tackling ATLUS’ Metaphor: ReFantazio last year, we knew it would only be a matter of time before it took on another big hitter, and it’s done exactly that. We never thought we’d see an Assassin’s Creed game running on our beloved clamshell, but here we are (thanks for the heads up, GamesRadar).
Pillars Of Eternity turns 10 years old this week, and developers Obsidian are celebrating with a patch that “addresses a wide range of fixes and improvements across visuals, combat, quests, and more”. Oh, and they’ve also announced plans to give the real-time-with-pausing RPG a turn-based combat mode.
What did you get for your 10th birthday? If it wasn’t a turn-based combat mode, then your parents officially love you less than Obsidian does Pillars Of Eternity. You might want to bring that up at the next family gathering. I’m already texting my dad.
Mario Kart 8 has established itself as a “juggernaut”.
Mario Kart 9 looks set to be Nintendo’s premier launch title for the Switch 2 but will it be enough to convince millions of existing Switch owners around the world they absolutely need this new hybrid system right away? Former Nintendo employees Kit and Krysta, who now run their own YouTube channel, aren’t so sure.
In a new video titled “The problem with the new Mario game on Switch 2“, the Nintendo of America alumni discussed how this next iteration of Mario Kart could end up being a tough sell at first after the evergreen success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe throughout the Switch generation.
Sega surprised fans in February with the official reveal of Shinobi: Art of Vengeance for the Switch and multiple other platforms. It’s already locked in a release date of 29th August 2025 and in an update today we’ve now got news of a physical release.
This hard copy version will be distributed by Limited Run Games. Pre-orders for this physical release are “coming soon” with a collector’s edition also confirmed. Here’s a look:
Amazon quietly restocked a bunch of Pokémon TCG bundles just days ago and stock is already running low. These Scarlet & Violet sets have been MIA for weeks, and now they’re back at retail prices. I already added a couple to my cart, Surging Sparks Booster Bundle, Shrouded Fable ETB and Paldean Fates Booster Bundle. Trainers need to snap these up quick. If they’re gone by the time you get there, that’s on you.
PlayStation Slim Disc Edition (Import) for $367.94
Looking for the least expensive PlayStation 5 console you can your hands on? As part of its US Anniversary Sale, AliExpress is offering an imported Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition gaming console for $367.94 shipped after $80 off coupon code “MAYUE008“. This is a brand new and retail boxed product that is stocked in a US warehouse and qualifies for local delivery, which means it ships free and arrives within about 1-2 weeks.
Deals For Today: Pokémon TCG – Surging Sparks Still In Stock and Cheap Power Banks+
I also spotted a couple of power banks on sale from INIU and Anker. If you’ve ever watched your phone die mid-flight or mid-text, you know why I’m excited. These things are cheap, fast, and less annoying than asking strangers for a charger at an airport. Do with that information what you will. Oh, and while we’re on the topic of things I absolutely don’t need but definitely want: the Gamera: Attack of Legion action figure is up for preorder at the IGN Store for a cool $560, and Humble Bundle just dropped a massive Dragonlance book bundle that practically dares you to add 25+ fantasy novels to your backlog for the price of lunch.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Surging Sparks Booster Bundle
I want this bundle purely for the thrill of cracking six packs in a row and pretending I’m building a deck for Worlds. The Surging Sparks expansion is still new enough to feel fresh, and at $45.02, it’s a decent value compared to scalper prices that make you question your financial decisions. If you just want to dip into the latest set without going full collector mode, this is it.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Paldean Fates Booster Bundle
Shiny Pokémon are back, and apparently so is my addiction to them. The Paldean Fates bundle gives you six chances to pull something sparkly, and while $69.94 isn’t exactly pocket change, I think the potential dopamine hit is worth the gamble. It’s in stock, it ships fast, and I’ve made worse choices at 2 a.m. on eBay.
The World of Dragonlance Bundle
I’m not saying this is the nerdiest thing you can buy today, but it’s definitely on the leaderboard. Humble Bundle just dropped a massive Dragonlance collection; 25+ books for about the cost of lunch. If you’ve ever wanted to get lost in magical twin drama, cursed artifacts, or the politics of dwarves (because who hasn’t), this is your sign. Plus, part of your purchase supports Room to Read, so now your TBR pile can come with good karma.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
In my opinion, this is the one to grab if you’re all-in on the set. Nine booster packs, a Pecharunt promo, themed sleeves, dice, and an actually-useful storage box? For $54.96? I’ve spent more on less at Taco Bell. Plus, it’s still Prime eligible, which means you don’t have to sell your soul for free shipping. Win-win.
Gamera – Attack of Legion – Action Figure
This is what happens when you give kaiju collectors exactly what they want: a 9.5-inch figure of LEGION from Gamera 2, complete with flying parts, glowing bits, and articulation that would make Spider-Man jealous. Sure, it’s $560, but I’ve seen statues half as cool go for double that. If you’re the kind of person who rearranges shelf space for something before buying it, I totally get it.
INIU Portable Charger, 22.5W 20000mAh
This thing charges your phone like it’s got something to prove. At $26.98, it gives you a full week’s worth of backup power and a built-in flashlight just in case you drop your phone and your dignity under your car seat. I want it purely because it has an LED readout that makes me feel like I’m operating a mission control panel instead of just charging my AirPods.
Anker Power Bank (PowerCore 10K)
I think this is the best deal of the day, and not just because it’s $17.99. It’s slim, light, and can survive a drop better than my will to stay off social media. Anker knows what it’s doing, and this charger just works. No random overheating, no mystery ports, just plug it in and keep scrolling through whatever app is currently ruining your sleep schedule.
Hulu + Live TV Free Trial
Hulu + Live TV offers a three-day free trial that allows you to take the live TV streaming service for a spin. This is one of the overall best streaming free trials because it gets you a bundle of services. It is quite a bit shorter than the standard Hulu free trial of 30 days, but it’s a great way to test it out over the weekend.
Samsung 49″ Odyssey QD-OLED (G93SC) Series Curved Gaming Monitor
With a 240Hz refresh rate, Dual QHD resolution, and 0.03ms response time, this 49-inch ultrawide OLED is built for high-performance PC gaming. The 1800R curve and HDR True Black 400 make it incredibly immersive, while FreeSync Premium Pro helps keep gameplay smooth and responsive.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4′ 64GB WiFi Android Tablet
This Android tablet comes with an S Pen included, a 10.4-inch display, and Samsung DeX for multitasking. At under $200, it’s a solid pick for casual gamers, students, or anyone who wants a lightweight, entertainment-ready tablet with productivity perks.
Humble Heroines Bundle 2025
Celebrate Women’s History Month with a killer bundle featuring female-led games. Titles include Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Control: Ultimate Edition, Darksiders III, Beyond: Two Souls, and more. It’s a $160+ value for just $12, or pay extra to give more to publishers, Humble, and charity.
roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum & Sonic Mop
With a whopping 10,000Pa of suction, self-refilling, self-emptying, sonic mopping, and even hot-air mop drying, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra takes hands-off cleaning to the next level. It’s packed with AI features and even supports pet tracking and video calls.
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32 GB)
Amazon’s newest Kindle adds color to the mix with a 7″ Colorsoft display. It still lasts up to 8 weeks on a single charge and now supports wireless charging and full-color highlights. It’s ideal for reading graphic novels, cookbooks, or anything where visuals matter.
Beats Studio Pro – Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones
Enjoy spatial audio, active noise canceling, and up to 40 hours of battery life. These over-ear headphones are compatible with both iOS and Android, and support lossless audio over USB-C. A strong option for commuters, creators, and music lovers.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16″ RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop for $2513
This Lenovo Legion Pro 7i gaming laptop drops to $2,513 at AliExpress after $100 off coupon code “IFPRZAZ” is applied. The Legion Pro 7 is Lenovo’s top-of-the-line gaming laptop and we rarely see discounts for this model. This particular configuration features a powerful Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and RTX 4080 GPU for comfortable high-fps gaming on the 16″ display’s native 2560×1600 resolution.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – Exclusive Amazon Edition
$32.99 for this masterpiece? I genuinely laughed. I paid full price, and I don’t even get the exclusive Cloud and Sephiroth controller skin. If you’ve ever wanted to explore Midgar’s post-industrial wastelands with emotionally repressed sword boys with a price lower than Black Friday’s, here you go.
Sony WH-1000XM5
I think these might actually cancel the noise in my soul. The sound is incredible, the fit is dreamy, and the battery life is better than my phone’s. Honestly, $249.99 for peace and quiet? Cheaper than therapy.
Smart LED Display Case Smarter Kit (4 Pack)
If you’ve ever looked at your shelf of figures, sneakers, or LEGO builds and thought, “This could be more dramatic,” I highly recommend these cases. I want my collectibles to feel as important as they think they are.
Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones Bluetooth On-Ear Headset with Microphone
At $38, these are the definition of “just throw them in the cart.” I use them for work, walks, and pretending I’m on a call to avoid conversations. Plus, 50 hours of battery life? That’s just showing off.
Kingdom hearts Integrum Masterpiece
$59.99 to cry over Disney characters and complicated lore? Yes, please. I think this collection should come with a warning and a box of tissues. It’s that much of a journey.
B100 Bluetooth Speaker
This speaker is tiny, but it’s loud enough to offend your upstairs neighbors and cute enough that they won’t stay mad. It survived my shower playlist and a weekend camping trip without flinching.
INZONE H3 Wired Gaming Headphones With Mic, PS5 Headphones
Crisp comms, no lag, and a mic that doesn’t make me sound like a robot underwater. I want to pretend I’m a competitive esports player, and this headset lets me live the fantasy.
Sony ULT Field 1 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
This speaker is basically the action hero of the portable audio world. It’s waterproof, rustproof, and probably judge-proof. I tossed it in my bag, it bounced around all day, and still blasted bass like nothing happened.
Sony ULT WEAR Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones with Alexa Built-in
Bass so strong it could cause an existential crisis. These are like strapping a subwoofer to your ears, but in a comfy, eco-friendly kind of way. I think I saw my dog flinch the first time I hit the ULT button.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones
XM4s are the previous-gen MVPs. They’ve still got top-tier ANC and that dreamy comfort that makes you forget you’re wearing them. At $179.99, I’m thinking of buying a backup pair for future me.
Sony BRAVIA Theater U Wireless Wearable TV Speaker with Bluetooth
A wearable speaker sounds ridiculous… until you try it. I felt like a sci-fi character watching a movie with surround sound on my shoulders. Honestly, I want to wear this to Zoom calls just for the audio flex.
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
My living room sounds like a private screening room now. I think this soundbar made my couch comfier just by association. Movies, games and music are all better with this beast.
Sony SRS-XP700 X-Series Wireless Karaoke Party-Speaker
I didn’t need a party speaker, but I bought this anyway. Complete with lights, bass and karaoke ports, it’s basically a party in a box. I want to say I got it for the sound, but really, it’s the lights.
Sony 65-Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 7
This TV made me realize I’ve been watching in peasant resolution my whole life. Mini LED, PlayStation 5 optimization, and colors so vivid I nearly apologized to my last TV for talking trash about it.
Sony 85-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD BRAVIA 3 LED Smart TV
I want to live in this TV. It’s 85 inches of 4K glory, and somehow still cheaper than a vacation. Probably because you won’t need one after this, seeing as your living room becomes the destination.
Sony 65 Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 9 Smart Google TV
This one’s for the people who want it all: QLED, anti-reflection, studio-calibrated modes, and picture quality so good I paused a show just to stare at a lamp. I think my eyes are spoiled now.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of “Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior”. Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Every generation or so, a new game genre ascends in popularity, carving out a spot in player’s hearts, with its breakout hit spawning countless imitators: think the Platformer, the FPS, the Open World, the Soulslike.
While dozens of games have followed the path blazed by FromSoftware’s seminal Souls games, very few have approached the bar set by Hidetaka Miyazaki and co. Lies of P, with its blend of tight, challenging action and a haunting take on Carlo Collodi’s “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” is one such genre standout.
Now 18 months since its initial release, Neowiz is finally sharing what’s next for Lies of P, the expansion Lies of P: Overture. At last week’s Game Developers Conference (GDC), I was able to sit down with Game Director Ji-won Choi to talk about what we can expect.
Xbox Wire: Before we get into the new stuff,I want to ask about the team and what the last 18 months have been like. I think it’s a year-and-a-half since Lies of P first came out, and so I would love to just sort of start there.
Ji-won Choi: If I had to choose one distinctive change from the beginning and then now, 18 months later, it’s that for the fans, there was a sentiment of worries and concern and that changed to trust, support, and expectation.
In our case, that sort of switch also happened to us. First, the worries and concern to modesty, because the lovely reaction and the feedback the fans actually share with us became a constant source of motivation for us to do better.
Xbox Wire: Lies of P was a fantastic addition to the Game Pass library in its first year. What was the Xbox/Game Pass partnership experience like in helping to bring Lies of P to the global stage?
Ji-won Choi: So, thank you so much for all the love and support that you have shared with us on Xbox, we really appreciate it, and we also want to share our love and appreciation for the fans of Xbox and Lies of P on Xbox. Our goal was always to bring our content to as wide a set of audience around the world as possible and Xbox allowed us to make that happen, and we are very grateful for it. And because of that, we have now heightened expectations to really continue to satisfy and improve our content to an even broader fanbase around the world- so we now have a lot of work to do.
Xbox Wire: Let’s talk about Overture, the recently revealed DLC expansion. So – and I’ll try to avoid super spoilery things here – at the end of Lies of P, which by the way I wear it as a badge of honor that I did beat the game, there’s a scene that seems to imply where Lies of P could go next. I found it a bit surprising that Overture will take us back in time. How was the decision made to see the city of Krat before it fell?
Ji-won Choi: Congratulations on beating the game! And yes, the character that we teased about, I can definitively say that that the character is not going to be in the expansion this time. For the expansion, we were putting all our effort into delivering Lies of P’s base game at first when we launched. Even before that, we had an even bigger vision and narratives that we wanted to put in. But because we had to focus on really completing the base game experience as a solid experience without issues, we had to cut out a lot of branches at that point.
Now, thanks to all the fans’ support and love and reception that you shared with us around the world, we now have a chance to really complete the experience that we couldn’t deliver at first when we launched the base game. So please consider this extension not as a separate entity, but it is actually the experience Lies of P was supposed to be delivered at first. Now you have the complete experience.
Xbox Wire: I’m curious how Overture integrates within the main game of Lies of P. Do you need to have completed the main game and then something happens that sends P back in time? Or is this something where a new player can enter as part of their original playthrough, and even bring the new Legion Arms and new moves in the expansion and bring them back to the main game?
Ji-won Choi: I cannot quite share with you exactly how the mechanism of how you jump into the expansion, but if you go and play to just about Chapter 9, with all the knowledge base and capability up to that point, it will let you very seamlessly jump into the world of the expansion. That is for the same for anyone who even completes the game at the end; even if you join in after completing the game, or if you join in by just simply playing up to the chapter 9ish, you have a satisfying experience together. So, the content itself is going to be both for the fans who are familiar with the franchise, and for brand new players.
Xbox Wire: I watched the recent Overture trailer and then I went and watched some very detailed fan videos that broke down every bit of the trailer frame by frame, to try to guess what’s happening. What do you want people to take away from the trailer? Anything they should be paying extra special attention to?
Ji-won Choi: I also saw those frame-by-frame analyses from the fans. First of all, that made me realize how much love that we have been receiving from our fan base around the world. I was deeply touched by that. What we wanted to really convey to the fans was quite simple: we wanted to let the fans know that we have gotten a lot of feedback, very meaningful feedback and reception of all kinds for a very long time. And we wanted to deliver content for the fans that they will intuitively know that we listen to them. And that’s what we wanted to deliver in our trailer.
Xbox Wire: I’m very curious about that. Lies that P was made, I would expect, with not a lot of expectations, externally. I mean it looked good, but nobody knew really what to expect. Now people know how good Lies of P is, and are anticipating Overture, so when you hear the fan feedback, I’m curious which things you are taking into account, or do you have to shut some of that out to complete your vision?
Ji-won Choi: Really meaningful question. We see this whole process as a collaboration and we take it seriously – a collaboration between developers and the customers. We carefully study all these elements all together and the key is to understand what we are doing well is resonating, and to understand what we’re doing wrong and how we identify it and improve upon it. So, when we get this type of feedback to ourselves, there are elements that are easily acceptable, and there are other elements that are sort of debatable, but we don’t just discard them. What we usually do is we bring those elements internally to our development team and we get to write it down and we start testing very quickly. Based on that, we can validate if those claims work out well for us or it doesn’t. We take it seriously: we test it, and we validate.
Xbox Wire: Going back to the trailer, my personal take away is that in the base game, it’s a very lonely experience most of the time. Yes, you can come back to the Hotel Krat and you get to see other people, which is great. But when you’re out in the world, you’re alone. And in this trailer, P is not alone very often – P blows the horn, and and I think it’s Aladoro comes smashing through the window, we see this masked stalker fighting alongside P. Is Overture going to be a less lonely affair?
Ji-won Choi: The whole feeling of loneliness and any other emotion, that’s something that’s hard for me to sort of predict… What we really focused on was to really elaborate on the attractive characters we started developing. When you play the base game, you see many different characters… or actually you only heard of through some hints throughout the game. When you experience the expansion, you will get to learn far more about these characters that we have hinted quite a bit. We want you to make sure that you have a much more thorough and complete experience of the attractive characters that we begin to introduce here again.
Xbox Wire: Any final thoughts?
Ji-won Choi: To emphasize, Overture combined with the base game is going to be the holistic experience of Lies of P – how it was meant to be experienced. Because of that, it’s highly intertwined together, so what I recommend or suggest to the fans would be to take time, experience the base game in time for our Overture launch, and enjoy.
Lies of P: Overture is a dramatic prequel to the acclaimed soulslike action RPG, Lies of P. It transports you to the city of Krat in its final days of haunting, late-19th-century Belle Époque beauty. On the brink of the Puppet Frenzy massacre, you follow a legendary Stalker—a mysterious guide—through untold stories and chilling secrets. As Geppetto’s deadly puppet, you’ll journey through Krat and its surroundings, uncover hidden backstories, and face epic battles that shape the past and future of Lies of P.
As Geppetto’s Puppet, you encounter a mysterious artifact that transports you back to Krat in its final days of grandeur. In the shadow of an impending tragedy, your mission is to explore the past and uncover its dark secrets—haunted by surprises, loss, and vengeance. The choices you make ripple through the past and present in the world of Lies of P, revealing hidden truths and leaving lasting consequences.
Embark on an unforgettable adventure where the symphony of steel clashes with the haunting melody of the unknown. Dare to unravel the mysteries of the past, for in the heart of darkness lies the key to unlocking the secrets of a timeless tale reborn.
“Geppetto’s puppet… We need your help.”
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.
You are a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters and untrustworthy figures standing between you and the events that have befallen the world of Lies of P.
You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat – a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city’s elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.
・ A DARKLY ELEGANT AND CRUEL WORLD
Unearth the secrets of the city of Krat – a place soaked in the style of the Belle Epoque era which once thrived due to its puppet industry and now sees its streets covered in blood.
・BATTLE WITH TWISTED INSTRUMENTS
Develop a unique combat style to counter vicious enemies and terrain by weaving together dynamic weapon combinations, utilizing the Legion Arms, and activating new abilities.
・WHAT’S IN A LIE?
There will be times when you will be confronted with choices where you can give comfort to others in sorrow or despair by lying…or you can choose to tell the truth.
Carve your own path.
・A CLASSIC REIMAGINED
Experience the beloved fairy tale of Pinocchio reinterpreted as a dark, grim narrative that allows players to discover the secrets and symbols hidden within the world of Lies of P.
