In an era where Role-Playing is reviewed as a new meta, several production houses are working on new projects to stand at the apex of the RPG genre.
While games like Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne still hold the charm amongst gamers, S-Games studio (a Chinese production house) is all prepared to conquer the throne with their upcoming action RPG titled “Phantom Blade Zero”.
From fantasy epics, hardcore boss fights, to fast-paced combat mechanics, Phantom Blade Zero will enter the limelight to outplay other RPG games at the pinnacle.
Eagerly awaited for a long time, Phantom Blade Zero was globally revealed during the PlayStation Showcase on May 24, 2023, with a cinematic teaser trailer. Since then, speculation and comparisons have been flooding the internet.
As an RPG player who has completed the Elden Ring and the Dark Souls franchise, I legit want to experience this holy grail to cure my curiosity and illness of boredom.
Till this meta RPG drops like a nuke on the gaming community, let’s have a look at factors like release date, pricing, lore, and much more from the inventory!
Phantom Blade Zero Release Date and Pricing
Directed by Liang Qiwei (widely known as SoulFrame Liang, across the gaming community), Phantom Blade Zero is all prepared to release on September 9, 2026.
The release date announcement was officially revealed at The Game Awards 2025. Further, a gameplay demo was enjoyed by many attendees at CES 2026, which was held in Las Vegas this January.
Similarly, the gameplay was revealed at ChinaJoy 2024 and TGS 2024, which were held in Shanghai and Tokyo, respectively, showcasing the folklore of Wuxia.
Meanwhile, Daniel Camilo, a gaming consultant from China, has revealed on his X account that Black Myth Wukong’s success has triggered a huge amount of funding for Phantom Blade Zero, besides the extra funding S-Game studio got while revealing their gameplay at TGS 2024 (Hype made them go so far that I’ll need a new device to experience the legacy of Phantom Blade.)
Moreover, a short animation was created by S-Game Studio to promote the longevity of Phantom Blade Zero’s hype.
The two-minute-long animated video, released in 2024, showcased stunning choreography and an environment filled with grim and bloodthirst.
Right off the bat, Phantom Blade Zero’s latest trailer confirms a 12-month exclusivity with PS5. Meaning that no other console can access the game for at least 12 months.
Shifting towards the pricing factor, officials at S-Game studio have not revealed a single penny for their upcoming game. However, speculations from several analysts and Reddit legends suggest that the game will be listed at a whopping $49.99-$69.99 at launch.
Considering the game’s long-awaited anticipation and hype amongst the entire gaming community, there’s a strong chance of getting a pro, deluxe, and collector’s edition, ranging from $79.99 to $249.99.
Information like pre-order bonus and different editions is yet to be revealed by the officials. Till then, fans around the globe can wishlist this gaming meta on several platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation Store.
Phantom Blade Zero Lore Explained
Buckle up, RPG lovers, as Phantom Blade Zero will take you to the abyss of Phantom World where demons and spirits lurks scheming their evil plot against you. Set in a world filled with grim, fate-changing controversies and feuds that you never witnessed in your dreams.
The game will offer players the opportunity to experience a lone wolf’s path as Soul (protagonist), a highly skilled assassin assigned by an organization known as The Order. (Why does it sound like the anime Sentenced to be a Hero?).
Delving deeper into the narrative, Soul only has 66 days to prove his innocence and find the one who framed him for The Order’s patriarch murder. You will need to fight your way to protect values and self-dignity. It’s more than an action RPG.
Unravelling through world-ending conspiracies, Soul fights off assassins and bosses far greater than Starcourage Radahn and the Soul of Cinder.
Enjoy the Year of the Snakes by accompanying Soul on his endless journey filled with vengeance. Gamers who have missed out on the chance to witness demo gameplay can submerge themselves in a 22-minute-long video revealed by IGN on YouTube.
Phantom Blade Zero : What Fans Will Witness on Their Screens?
For those who don’t know, Phantom Blade is a long-lost franchise backed by iconic games like Rainblood 1, Rainblood: City of Flame, and Phantom Blade: Executioners.
The upcoming game from the Chinese production studio is a powerhouse, which will invite players into the fantasy and horror folklore of Wuxia.
Coined as KungFupunk by the developers, fans will witness authentic KungFu with the aesthetics of Steampunk and dark fantasy. From the alternate era of the Ming Dynasty, this BP blaster will offer several weapons like Soft Snake Sword, White Serpent, and Crimson Viper at your disposal.
Compared to the Elden Ring's combat mechanism, Phantom Blade Zero focuses on a lightning-fast combat mechanism, leaving enemies with a low hitbox. Although it's a single-player action RPG game, Co-op mode is speculated for the endgame, to tackle specialized missions and infuriating boss dungeons.
Featuring a semi-open world sandbox, players will be able to find interconnectedness between different maps, shortcuts, and secrets that send shivers down the spine.
Parry mechanism might seem impossible after witnessing such high-voltage fight scenes. Worry not, those devs also know that you took around 2 months to beat the Mimic Tear from Elden Ring.
On the other hand, players will be offered side quests and secret challenges besides the main storyline to boost or upgrade Soul’s arsenal.
Choices also matter; each decision will toll its weight on the endgame, delivering different outcomes and endings.
Wrapping Up
Chinese developers are killing it right now! Games like Phantom Blade, Swords of Legends, and Black Myth series are revolutionizing a golden era of AAA and RPG gaming. Releasing in Fall 2026, Phantom Blade Zero will surely surpass the RPG Hall of Famers with its exhilarating visuals, adrenaline-pumped fight scenes, and kinetic gameplay.