It seems unthinkable in a Soulslike, but there is a game that has added 3 easier difficulty levels

Players of Lies of P will soon have the opportunity to experience the universe of this game based on the story of Pinocchio with difficulty options that will make it more accessible to a wider audience. The expansion titled Lies of P: Overture, although it does not yet have a release date, will include two new difficulty modes: Butterfly’s Guidance and Awakened Puppet, which will be easier than the current setting, known as Legendary Stalker. This decision comes after pressure from players and the development team itself, who seek to make the game more accessible.

It could be the beginning of more accessible Soulslikes

The game director, Jiwon Choi, had previously stated that he did not believe in implementing difficulty options in Soulslike genre games. However, he has changed his perspective due to the controversies and reactions online. Opinions on this news have been varied; while some of the audience oppose the inclusion of difficulty options, many others applaud the decision, arguing that accessibility benefits a larger number of players.

In addition to the new easier difficulty options, the Overture expansion will feature a boss rush mode with five increasing difficulty levels, as well as an additional boss challenge that will not replenish healing items between fights, adding an extra layer of difficulty for those seeking a greater challenge. This addition reflects a shift in Neowiz’s philosophy, which aims to balance the inherent challenge of Lies of P with a more enjoyable experience for a wide variety of players.

While the debate about the difficulty in Soulslike games continues, Neowiz’s intervention could set a precedent. The community hopes that this evolution will also inspire other developers within the genre to reconsider their approaches to accessibility and difficulty.