And, just like that, Lies of P just killed any chances of the game selling well, especially on Steam and among PC gamers.

With Elden Ring's DLC nowhere to be found as FromSoftware keeps itself busy revitalizing the surprisingly underserved mecha genre, several other developers had a chance to step up their game and give Soulsborne fans their fix. Just a few months ago, Remnant 2 successfully stole the headlines in the same month that Diablo 4 and Baldur's Gate 3 were the talk of the town. After the much-anticipated reveal of Lies of P's release date and its demo, many believed that the upcoming Soulsborne game would get the push.

Except, NEOWIZ, the game's developers, pretty much guaranteed that this wouldn't happen.

As pointed out by DSO Gaming, NEOWIZ quietly listed the Denuvo anti-tamper tech on Lies of P Steam's store page - a "scummy" move done only after the review embargo had lifted and before its official launch on September 18. This means that those who pre-ordered the Digital Deluxe Edition of Lies of P are in for a bit of a surprise. 

Before this discovery, Lies of P had already spent some time up for pre-order on Steam, which is why fans are miffed at the deceptive act since the developer didn't include this from the outset.

For those not in the know, Denuvo is a well-known anti-piracy method. While it has been a cornerstone of many game releases, its reputation is fraught with controversy. Critics have pointed out that Denuvo damages solid state drives and negatively affects overall game performance. Ironically, while it is meant to deter pirates, Denuvo often gets cracked. This means that those who pirate the game might end up with a more stable version than those who have purchased it legitimately.

Such criticisms have been echoed by many in the gaming community. The timing of the inclusion of Denuvo has irked many, with some fans feeling that NEOWIZ meant to wait until the review embargo lifted and reviews were out before pulling the rug from under everyone who had pre-ordered the game.

It's clear that NEOWIZ was attempting to capitalize on pre-orders without spooking potential customers away.

This late-stage confirmation of DENUVO has resulted in many players cancelling their pre-orders and asking for refunds. Thankfully, Steam offers users an extensive refund process, letting those who paid for a title in advance request for refunds at any time before the release of a game.

Those who haven't caught wind of the bad news yet will have two hours (or 14 days, whichever comes first) to ask for a refund if they feel like Lies of P isn't performing as it should. 

It's a shame that Lies of P's upcoming launch is mired by these controversies. Built on the Unreal Engine 4, Lies of P has demonstrated smooth performance across a variety of PC configurations. Furthermore, the game promises stunning visuals and a rich gaming experience.

If nothing else, Lies of P would've had a chance to pull in respectable numbers despite launching in the same month as Starfield and Baldur's Gate 3 on the PlayStation 5. 

Now, Lies of P risks facing the internet's favourite concoction of review bombing and backlash (albeit, well-deserved), which may result in low sales. Even if NEOWIZ decides to remove Denuvo from Lies of P at the last minute, the damage has already been done. 

NEOWIZ has yet to issue a statement following the discovery.