Lies of P’s New Difficulty Modes and Boss Rush: Smart Expansion or Dilution of the Soulslike

I’ll admit, when I heard Lies of P was adding easier difficulty settings and an ultra-hard boss rush, I did a double-take. As someone who’s followed the soulslike genre from Demon’s Souls to the present, any tinkering with difficulty is bound to spark heated debate. But with Neowiz prepping for the Overture prequel and expanding the game’s audience, there’s a lot riding on how these changes land-for both veterans and the curious newcomers who bounced off Krat the first time around.

Lies of P’s Difficulty Overhaul: A Bridge for Newcomers or a Betrayal of Soulslike Roots?

• Two new, easier difficulty modes make Lies of P more accessible for players put off by its punishing design.
• Ultra-hard boss rush mode offers exclusive rewards for diehards craving a true test of skill.
• Overture prequel expansion aims to complete the original vision, pulling in cut content and launching in 2026.
• Developers insist the “soul” of the challenge remains intact despite added options.

Feature	Specification
Publisher	Neowiz
Release Date	2026 (Overture), TBA (difficulty update)
Genres	Soulslike, Action RPG
Platforms	PC, PlayStation, Xbox

Let’s get real: the difficulty of games like Lies of P isn’t just a feature-it’s the heart of the experience. Every dodge, every boss attempt, every crushing death is a rite of passage. So when Neowiz says they’re adding two gentler difficulty settings, the knee-jerk reaction from the core community is understandable. But I actually see this as overdue. The genre’s popularity has exploded, and so has the diversity of the player base. Not everyone wants to bash their head against a brick wall for 40 hours, but plenty want the eerie, twisted fairytale world and deep combat system. Giving those players a way in isn’t “dumbing down”—it’s widening the invitation to an already vibrant party.

But Neowiz clearly isn’t just chasing easy-mode converts. The new boss rush mode looks like a love letter to the masochists among us—the soulslike purists who crave bragging rights and exclusive loot. And honestly, that’s smart. By doubling down on both ends of the spectrum, Neowiz keeps the core challenge alive while opening new doors. It’s a direct response to debates raging across gaming forums: can you make soulslikes more accessible without gutting their identity?

And then there’s Overture—the prequel expansion built out of “cut content.” As a long-time FromSoftware fan, I’ve seen expansions hit or miss when it comes to fleshing out the world. The fact that Overture is positioned as filling the gaps suggests there’s more dark magic to uncover in Krat. But I do wonder: does a $29.99 price tag and a 2026 launch risk losing momentum? Soulslike communities are loyal, but short gaming attention spans are real. The promise of a “complete” vision is tantalizing—but it needs to deliver more than just leftovers.

For gamers, this is one of those rare win-win updates—if it’s handled with care. If you bounced off Lies of P’s brutal first hours, this is your invitation to return. If you’ve already conquered everything Krat threw at you, the new boss rush is the perfect excuse to dust off your controller and flex. The real story here is Neowiz listening to both sides of the fandom and trying to bridge a longstanding soulslike divide: accessibility versus purity. As long as they avoid the pitfall of watered-down challenge for all, this could set a positive precedent for the genre.

TL;DR: Lies of P is about to become more welcoming without losing its sharp edge—two easier difficulties for newcomers, a hardcore boss rush for veterans, and a meaty prequel on the way. If Neowiz balances these moves right, this could be how you future-proof a soulslike, not just soften it.

Source: Neowiz via GamesPress