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Lies of P Dev Explains Benefits of Launching Day One With Xbox Game Pass

In a post-launch interview with Game Rant, Lies of P director Jiwon Choi details how the team benefited from launching day one on Xbox Game Pass.

gamerant.com

One constant benefit of the service, especially for any new IP, is an almost instant community. Someone who may skip on a game like Lies of P at retail value may find themselves drawn to it when it comes at the cost of their subscription. Game Pass is a serious benefit, one that game director Jiwon Choi described as "one of the best options for us to get the game into the hands of a large community of players" as a completely new IP in a recent interview with Game Rant.

"The Xbox team ran a wide range of marketing campaigns for Lies of P, and I cannot reveal the exact number here, but a huge number of gamers have played our game through Xbox Game Pass. I believe both parties earned a very good result from this collaboration."

 

[twilo99]

Must be fake.

 

[geary]

 

[analog_future]

Not surprising.

In an absolutely loaded year, Lies of P managed to become a hit. I don't know that a ton of consumers were going to jump on a "solid" Souls-like new IP from a new developer for $60, especially in 2023 with so many other options, but on Game Pass? Hell yeah. And Microsoft's marketing muscle did the game huge favors as well.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Honestly, I dont know if I would say it was my number one game of the year...but its one I think of extremely fondly. It's up there. Absolutely amazing game that I wouldn't have tried if it wasn't for game pass. I could see myself picking it up on sale, but gamepass allowed me to play and complete it day one. I then purchased it as a thank you to the dev!

 

[DeepEnigma]

Up front money in a sea of great games at retail.

It isn't that hard.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Up front money in a sea of great games at retail.

It isn't that hard.

Yes, but for some reason being truthful is a dangerous quality nowadays.

 

[Punished Miku]

Many other new IP died this year with studios closing. Atomic Heart and Lies of P did not.

This is what is meant by GP can increase sales. Sometimes it increases sales on totally different systems even. Sometimes people buy it when it leaves. New IP are at more risk of dying at retail these days than ever. A lot of people are simply not willing to try new games from unknown teams.

For certain games, subs are a huge lifeline and benefit the industry. Been shown many times. For known properties and established valuable IP, it makes less sense.

 

[Badlucktroll]

konami should hire a developer like this to do a castlevania. with great souls like whip mechanics

 

[SmokedMeat]

There’s certainly going to be cases where Game Pass makes sense, and is beneficial.

It’s not one size fits all.

 

[Zannegan]

Must be fake.

I hear you. Folks act like it's all or nothing, but there's got to be some room for nuance in this debate.

Sure, putting a game that already would have sold well on a sub service will boost the sub rate at the cost of full-priced sales. On the other hand, a smaller title like Lies of P that probably would have slipped through the cracks, might benefit both from the up front money and the improved visibility.

 

[NickFire]

I hear you. Folks act like it's all or nothing, but there's got to be some room for nuance in this debate.

Sure, putting a game that already would have sold well on a sub service will boost the sub rate at the cost of full-priced sales. On the other hand, a smaller title like Lies of P that probably would have slipped through the cracks, might benefit both from the up front money and the improved visibility.

I'm sure some of the anti-GP zealots truly hate it for irrational reasons. But IMO, most people who comment negatively are really commenting on the marketing / fluff / lies / evangelicals / bizarre claims / etc.

 

[adamsapple]

I reckon, most people on GAF who played it wouldn't have known about the game were it not on Game Pass, so job well done I suppose.

Extensive free marketing, exposure etc etc.

 

[Zannegan]

I'm sure some of the anti-GP zealots truly hate it for irrational reasons. But IMO, most people who comment negatively are really commenting on the marketing / fluff / lies / evangelicals / bizarre claims / etc.

Fair point, but even those claims seem like they are taken without nuance and blown out of proportion (by evangelists and zealots alike).

 

[Evil Calvin]

Gamepass is good for:

1. MP games where they can build up a big player base
2. GAAS where the more people who are playing it means more potential $$$$ from MTX
3. Indie games where a small studio can benefit from $$$$ by MS and get word of mouth for the game
4. New studio with a new IP can benefit from $$$$ by MS and get word of mouth for the game
5. Meaty games where people will start it and when the game falls off GP then players may be inclined to buy it outright at a discount since they likely have not finished the game.
6. Games that have or will have DLC. They put the game on GP but not the DLC. Players play the game and then buy the DLC
7. Games which may be a bit older and is having a sequel coming out soon. Builds up a player base who may want to purchase the sequel after playing the original title.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Must be fake.

it certainly is

 

[SCB3]

Not surprising.

In an absolutely loaded year, Lies of P managed to become a hit. I don't know that a ton of consumers were going to jump on a "solid" Souls-like new IP from a new developer for $60, especially in 2023 with so many other options, but on Game Pass? Hell yeah. And Microsoft's marketing muscle did the game huge favors as well.

Lords of the Fallen proved that, in a year of 3 decent Souls likes in Remnant 2, lords and Lies of P, launching on GP was a damned good choice, hell I bougght it after playing on there just because of how good it was

 

[Mr Moose]

I didn't like the demo so skipped the game. Glad it seems to be doing well for them though.

 

[intheinbetween]

Game Pass is great for new IPs coming from new studios, it offers a great exposure of those titles to existing subscribers avoiding the situation of people considering if spending 60-80$ on a new entry from an unknown (unproven) studio

 

[Calverz]

Congrats to them. It wasn’t for me but from what I played, it was very polished.

 

[KingT731]

SO long and short is "we got paid and MS advertised the game for us"

 

[twilo99]

Game Pass is great for new IPs coming from new studios, it offers a great exposure of those titles to existing subscribers avoiding the situation of people considering if spending 60-80$ on a new entry from an unknown (unproven) studio

I got it 3 years ago and I think in that time I've tried at least ~80 games that I would simply not consider buying. Hi-Fi rush was a great example of a game that I really enjoyed but would've never even tried if it wasn't on there, Cocoon, Firewatch, vampire survivors, Forza Motorsport.. there is just so many. I just installed Against the Storm last night, great game, had no idea it even existed before someone here mentioned that it was on there.

If you like playing video games the only downside I see is that there are too many good games on there to burn your time

 

[HRK69]

I played through it in a couple of sessions and thought it was pretty fun

One encounter was total bullshit but the rest of the game is easily doable

 

[El Muerto]

Several game studios have also praised gamepass in the past. It's great for indies as they can recoup their development costs when MS gives them money to put their game on Gamepass.

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[SportsFan581]

Good to hear. That will keep things looking up for subscribers.

 

[havoc00]

 

[Tommi84]

Must be fake.

I see what you did there

 

[BennyBlanco]

It was a good fit for this game in particular.

 

[PanzerCute]

Not surprising.

In an absolutely loaded year, Lies of P managed to become a hit. I don't know that a ton of consumers were going to jump on a "solid" Souls-like new IP from a new developer for $60, especially in 2023 with so many other options, but on Game Pass? Hell yeah. And Microsoft's marketing muscle did the game huge favors as well.

Lords of the Fallen is a very mid Souls like game and sold the same amount, without being on gamepass.

But yes, it also helped LoP get more traction and more people play the game, people who would have never bought it. And they also got some nice money from MS.

So hey, not a bad deal, but I think the game would have gotten the same success without GP.

 

[mejin]

Exceptions everywhere.

 

[N0S]

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Honestly, I dont know if I would say it was my number one game of the year...but its one I think of extremely fondly. It's up there. Absolutely amazing game that I wouldn't have tried if it wasn't for game pass. I could see myself picking it up on sale, but gamepass allowed me to play and complete it day one. I then purchased it as a thank you to the dev!

How long is the game?