# Phantom Blade Zero (影之刃零)
**Phantom Blade Zero** (影之刃零) is a dark wuxia (Chinese martial-arts fiction genre of heroic swordsmen) action role-playing game developed by the Chinese studio S-Game and published by S-GAME Publishing for PlayStation 5 and PC, scheduled to launch on October 29, 2026.[1](https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/17/phantom-blade-zero-state-of-play-dives-deep-into-combat-and-the-wulin-world/) • [2](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/phantom-blade-zero/) Built on [Unreal Engine 5](https://www.edgepedia.org/unreal-engine-5), it is the spiritual rebirth of the 2010 indie game *Rainblood: Town of Death* and the first console entry in the *Phantom Blade* series, which previously consisted mostly of mobile games released in China.[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/) The game's art direction, which the studio calls "Kungfupunk", fuses traditional [Chinese martial arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/chinese-martial-arts) with punk fantasy elements such as mechanical prosthetics and steampunk-like machinery.[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/) • [2](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/phantom-blade-zero/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer / publisher | S-Game; S-GAME Publishing[2](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/phantom-blade-zero/) |
| Genre and engine | Dark wuxia action RPG on Unreal Engine 5[2](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/phantom-blade-zero/) |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store)[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayGk_auu5tk) |
| Premise | Soul, an assassin of "The Order", framed for murdering his master, has 66 days to live and must find the mastermind[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/) |
| Arsenal | 30+ primary weapons and 20+ unique Phantom Edges claimed from fallen foes[2](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/phantom-blade-zero/) |
| Price | Standard Edition $59.99; Digital Deluxe Edition $69.99[2](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/phantom-blade-zero/) |
## Origins and development
The series traces back to *Rainblood: Town of Death*, an indie game that Soulframe Liang, founder and CEO of S-Game, made himself with [RPG Maker](https://www.edgepedia.org/rpg-maker) in 2010 while studying architecture, first in Beijing and then in New Haven. After returning to China he founded S-Game, and *Rainblood* grew into the *Phantom Blade* franchise, mostly smartphone games that were never released outside China but built a fan base of over 20 million.[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/) Liang has said that during the decade making mobile games the team learned to let players execute elaborate chains of moves with minimal button-mashing, a mechanism that carried over to controllers.[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/)
Phantom Blade Zero was announced on May 24, 2023 during the PlayStation Showcase.[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/)
## Story and setting
The player controls Soul, an elite assassin serving a powerful organization known simply as "The Order". Framed for the murder of The Order's patriarch and gravely injured in the manhunt that followed, he is saved by a mystic healer whose makeshift cure lasts only 66 days. He must find the mastermind before his time runs out, against powerful foes and inhuman monstrosities.[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/) The PlayStation store page describes him as a swordsman hunted across the Wulin, the martial world, as he unravels a conspiracy that threatens it.[2](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/phantom-blade-zero/)
The game takes place in the Phantom World, a universe where many kinds of powers converge: Chinese kungfu, intricate machines reminiscent of steampunk, and occult arts. It unfolds in a semi-open world of multiple maps of reasonable size, handcrafted and populated with diverse activities, rather than one huge continuous space; the in-game map of the Wulin is presented in the style of a Chinese ink painting that fills in as the player explores.[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/) • [5](https://www.creativebloq.com/features/phantom-blade-zero-is-an-unreal-engine-5-game-that-feels-like-a-playable-kung-fu-movie)
## Combat and design
**Combat structure.** S-Game has stated from the beginning that Phantom Blade Zero was never intended to be a Souls-like game; the team describes a combat structure that blends exploration-driven gameplay with fast, fluid action combat, alongside deep progression mechanics, extensive collection elements, and a complex narrative.[6](https://www.vice.com/en/article/soulframe-ceo-of-s-game-and-the-creator-of-phantom-blade-zero-details-how-it-differs-from-any-other-action-game-on-the-market-exclusive-interview/) The studio identifies three pillars: combat, narrative, and level or world design.[7](https://rpgamer.com/2026/10/phantom-blade-zero-preview-qa/)
Mechanically the game shares some conventions with other action RPGs, including color-coded attacks that indicate whether the player should dodge or parry, but the martial arts fantasy rests on fluid, dynamic combat animations; even holding a block shows the character clashing blades with the opponent in the manner of a wuxia duel.[5](https://www.creativebloq.com/features/phantom-blade-zero-is-an-unreal-engine-5-game-that-feels-like-a-playable-kung-fu-movie) Preview coverage has emphasized a high skill ceiling, weapon switching to extend combos, and legible fights against both duels and groups.[8](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action-rpg/phantom-blade-zero-is-my-most-anticipated-action-rpg-and-it-looks-like-the-best-and-biggest-chinese-game-since-black-myth-wukong/)
**Martial arts production.** S-Game mocaps the game's action with real martial artists and also employs wires of the kind used in wuxia films so actors can perform larger-than-life acrobatics. Hong Kong action film veterans are involved: action choreographer and film director [Kenji Tanigaki](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenji-tanigaki) serves as action director, demonstrating each designed move for the animation artists, and [Donnie Yen](https://www.edgepedia.org/donnie-yen) is credited as Creative Consultant.[5](https://www.creativebloq.com/features/phantom-blade-zero-is-an-unreal-engine-5-game-that-feels-like-a-playable-kung-fu-movie) • [3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/) The studio has said combat moves must be made with handcrafted animation because motion capture alone cannot do them justice.[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/)
**Kungfupunk.** The aesthetic draws on the golden age of wuxia cinema, from Louis Cha's novels to [Bruce Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-lee)'s films, while adding what Liang calls a heavy dose of punk spirit, with subversive influences from cyberpunk to modern pop and rock music.[3](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/) • [5](https://www.creativebloq.com/features/phantom-blade-zero-is-an-unreal-engine-5-game-that-feels-like-a-playable-kung-fu-movie)
## Reception and anticipation
Before release, the game drew one of the longest queues at Gamescom 2025,[9](https://eu.china-mission.gov.cn/eng/zywj/CSTNENG/202510/P020251025826290872820.pdf) and its latest gameplay video had reached 6 million views on YouTube by August 2025.[10](https://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/uploads/images/2025/08/25/84898.pdf) Meristation named it best game of both [Tokyo Game Show](https://www.edgepedia.org/tokyo-game-show) 2025 and Summer Game Fest 2026, judging from combat-focused demos.[11](https://as.com/meristation/reportajes/6-detalles-clave-de-phantom-blade-zero-tras-jugar-sus-6-primeras-horas-se-viene-otro-candidato-a-goty-f202610-n/) A gameplay deep dive State of Play broadcast on August 17, 2026 showed the combat customization systems ahead of launch, and pre-orders opened the same month.[1](https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/17/phantom-blade-zero-state-of-play-dives-deep-into-combat-and-the-wulin-world/) • [12](https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/11/watch-the-phantom-blade-zero-gameplay-deep-dive-state-of-play-on-august-17-pre-orders-live-today/)
## References
1. [Phantom Blade Zero State of Play dives deep into combat and the Wulin world, PlayStation.Blog](https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/17/phantom-blade-zero-state-of-play-dives-deep-into-combat-and-the-wulin-world/)
2. [Phantom Blade Zero - PS5 Games, PlayStation (US)](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/phantom-blade-zero/)
3. [Phantom Blade Zero: a new beginning in a long journey, PlayStation.Blog (May 24, 2023)](https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/)
4. [Phantom Blade Zero - Official Release Date Announcement Trailer, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayGk_auu5tk)
5. [Phantom Blade Zero's dark wuxia world feels like a playable kung fu movie, Creative Bloq](https://www.creativebloq.com/features/phantom-blade-zero-is-an-unreal-engine-5-game-that-feels-like-a-playable-kung-fu-movie)
6. [Soulframe, CEO of S-Game, Details How It Differs From Any Other Action Game on the Market, Vice](https://www.vice.com/en/article/soulframe-ceo-of-s-game-and-the-creator-of-phantom-blade-zero-details-how-it-differs-from-any-other-action-game-on-the-market-exclusive-interview/)
7. [Phantom Blade Zero Preview Q&A, RPGamer](https://rpgamer.com/2026/10/phantom-blade-zero-preview-qa/)
8. [Phantom Blade Zero is my most-anticipated action RPG, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action-rpg/phantom-blade-zero-is-my-most-anticipated-action-rpg-and-it-looks-like-the-best-and-biggest-chinese-game-since-black-myth-wukong/)
9. [China Mission to the EU, Gamescom 2025 report (PDF)](https://eu.china-mission.gov.cn/eng/zywj/CSTNENG/202510/P020251025826290872820.pdf)
10. [Arab Times, August 2025 (PDF)](https://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/uploads/images/2025/08/25/84898.pdf)
11. [Las 6 claves de Phantom Blade Zero tras jugar las 6 primeras horas, Meristation](https://as.com/meristation/reportajes/6-detalles-clave-de-phantom-blade-zero-tras-jugar-sus-6-primeras-horas-se-viene-otro-candidato-a-goty-f202610-n/)
12. [Watch the Phantom Blade Zero gameplay deep dive State of Play on August 17, PlayStation.Blog](https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/11/watch-the-phantom-blade-zero-gameplay-deep-dive-state-of-play-on-august-17-pre-orders-live-today/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Individual game titles › Individual PlayStation-platform game titles › Role-playing games*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license