NeoWiz's mega-hit title 'P's Lie' is lighting up its final spark on the Nintendo Switch 2. While preparing a sequel, NeoWiz has successfully expanded its user base to include many light users on the Nintendo platform.
According to the IT industry on the 27th, 'P's Lie Complete Edition' for the Nintendo Switch 2 released by NeoWiz received a score of 86 points on Metacritic, a global game review site. This is the highest score ever recorded in the 'P's Lie' franchise.
Releasing an IP (intellectual property) on the Nintendo platform is notoriously difficult. To launch a Nintendo version, developers must first register and gain approval through Nintendo's official developer portal. During this process, they must sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement), and their game project overview and development history are subject to review.
Development involves optimizing the game for Nintendo hardware. It is essential to ensure stable operation in both TV mode (docked) and handheld mode. This requires specialized development tools and kits, bringing additional costs and technical burdens.
After development, the game must pass Nintendo's strict quality and technical review process conducted directly by Nintendo. All detailed items must be met, including crash prevention, behavior when the home button is pressed, exception handling for controller disconnection, and proper button UI labeling according to guidelines. If standards are not met, the submission is rejected, requiring revisions and resubmission.
NeoWiz individually profiled bottlenecks in both docked and handheld modes to determine optimization directions. The most challenging aspect was readability. Viewing the UI designed for TV screens directly in handheld mode made text difficult to read, so they adjusted all font sizes specifically for the Switch 2. They also thoroughly rechecked the layout accordingly.
From a gameplay perspective, Chief Director Choi Ji-won explained that since 'P's Lie' is an action game where precise timing is key, they focused on preserving the original game's "hand feel." To minimize input lag for actions like 'Perfect Guard,' where success or failure hinges on split-second inputs, they prioritized reducing controller vibration and fully transferring the control experience perfected on other platforms. Additionally, anticipating many users would play in handheld mode, they made supporting 60fps across both modes their top priority.
To transplant the gothic-style backgrounds without loss, NeoWiz analyzed the Switch 2's hardware characteristics and pursued optimization through a strategy of selection and concentration. The entire team agreed on what experiences were most important in the game and allocated resources accordingly. Director Choi noted that thanks to the Unreal Engine-based development environment and systematically organized platform documentation, they were able to proceed without major trial and error.
A NeoWiz representative stated, "This record-breaking high score is a recognition of our efforts to faithfully implement the original 'P's Lie' on a new platform." They added, "Through this Complete Edition, we hope more global gamers will experience the deep fun of 'P's Lie.'"
in TECH
