With just days to go before release, Phantom Blade Zero has a new trailer, the launch one, offering a better look at its world and its story, two things that had been kept under wraps until now. Developed by Chinese studio S-Game, this action title draws on wuxia, the genre that celebrates martial arts in Chinese cinema and literature, and it lands on 29 October on PS5 and PC. And we're delighted to tell you that the game will indeed get a physical PS5 release in 2027, with three editions lined up: Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate Collector. The visuals revealed look seriously classy and should delight collectors who like handsome pieces on their shelves. That said, you'll have to wait a few more months before you can get your hands on them.
66 days to uncover the truth
In Phantom Blade Zero, you play as Soul, a warrior wrongly accused of murdering his master who must fight his own kind to prove his innocence. Struck through the heart, Soul should have died, but he was brought back to life — except that he now has only 66 days left. Hunted by his former comrades, he'll have to work out what lies behind this accusation and expose a conspiracy that threatens far more than his own existence. But what really sets Phantom Blade Zero apart is its visual and artistic identity. S-Game has dreamt up Kungfupunk, an approach that mines the golden age of Hong Kong action cinema to blend traditional martial arts with a mechanical world, where metal and technology rub shoulders with the conventions of kung fu films. The studio leaned on Unreal Engine 5 and high-end mo-cap to bring choreography inspired by the films of that era to life.
On the gameplay side, the studio is promising an arsenal of more than 30 weapons, plus over 25 secondary weapons dubbed 'Phantom Edges'. Players will be able to combine these various abilities to tailor their combat style, while certain defeated enemies will let you claim their weapons and signature techniques. See you on 29 October on PS5 and PC to see how the finished article shapes up.
