- Phantom Blade Zero is an effort to create a new gaming identity, according to director Soulframe Liang.
- The RPG won’t be like a hack-and-slash title or a Soulslike.
- The S-Game title will be something fans rarely experience, known as a Wuxia action game.
Despite criticism for its lack of single-player titles this generation, PlayStation has still managed to deliver several GOTY-worthy games from the genre, with Death Stranding 2 becoming the latest example of this. Sony still has several console exclusives to come for the PS5, and arguably the most exciting among them is Phantom Blade Zero.
The RPG was first revealed at the 2023 PlayStation Showcase and has since garnered a positive reception in previews, with fans showing anticipation for the title, and with the director saying Phantom Blade Zero will be unlike any RPG, it’s hard not to look forward to it.
Why This Matters: Soulslike titles have been making the RPG genre very stagnant, so it’s good to see a developer trying to come up with something innovative.
The game’s director, Soulframe Liang, told players that the game is neither a Soulslike nor a traditional action game but rather an effort to create an entirely new genre. In a letter addressed to the fans, the developer stated that S-Game figured out while making the RPG that what they were creating was rarely experienced by players.
Phantom Blade Zero does take inspiration from hack-and-slash games, according to Liang, but what the developer has ended up making is an entirely new identity. Just like how the term “action movies” was an amalgamation of decades of cinema, the director wants to start popularizing a new genre called Wuxia Action Games.
However, Phantom Blade Zero is neither a Soulslike game nor a traditional action game.”
Hence, Phanom Blade Zero won’t be like any action RPG you would be expecting, as even with interconnected maps and checkpoints, it’s nothing like a Soulslike. Fans will have to wait a little bit to try out the entire game as the RPG is expected to launch in 2026 with a meager budget of $55 million.
With a 40-hour story and satisfying combat to boast, Phantom Blade Zero will be a generational leap in action games that won’t be too hard for everyone.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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