Neowiz, the studio behind the critically acclaimed souls-like action RPG Lies of P, has potentially revealed its next direction with a newly registered trademark. The filing, spotted on the European Union Intellectual Property Office website, is for "Wonders of O." This moniker strongly suggests that the developer is planning a macabre spin on L. Frank Baum's iconic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz stories for a future game.
The trademark listing specifies "interactive multimedia software for playing games," but offers no further details regarding the title's content or scope. However, Lies of P itself provided subtle hints of a connection to the Emerald City. The game's mid-credits sequence featured a glimpse of a familiar pair of ruby-red shoes, a direct nod to Dorothy's footwear in Baum's books.
With The Wonderful Wizard of Oz entering the public domain in 1956, Neowiz has considerable creative freedom to reimagine the source material through its signature souls-like lens. The original stories are rich with fantastical elements, including flying monkeys, the Wicked Witch of the East, the Tin Man, and the enigmatic Wizard of Oz himself, all of which offer fertile ground for the studio's distinctive dark fantasy approach.
This potential sequel development follows the successful launch of Lies of P in 2023 and its subsequent "Overture" expansion earlier this year. "Overture" served as a prequel, delving into the events that precipitated the Puppet Frenzy massacre and the subsequent downfall of the city of Krat. The original game also received a port to the Nintendo Switch earlier in 2024.
In recent discussions about game development, Neowiz has indicated an interest in leveraging technology. In January, the developer stated it was exploring the use of AI for automating routine operational tasks, a move that has generated debate in Western game development circles but is more established in countries like South Korea. Neowiz co-CEO Sean Kim highlighted the potential benefits, suggesting that faster data processing could lead to better-informed strategic decisions and improved support for development teams and community engagement.