- Phantom Blade Zero is avoiding heavy UE5 features to avoid optimization problems.
- The game is not using Lumen and virtual shadow maps, with baked lighting and limited ray-traced shadows.
- There is also no evidence of Nanite being used, but there were still minor stutters in the Gamescom build.
Phantom Blade Zero has continued to impress gamers, looking more alluring after each gameplay reveal. It aims to offer a generational leap for action titles, with level designs that draw inspiration from classic FromSoftware titles.
New analysis now also sheds light on the game’s unique approach to handling performance concerns related to Unreal Engine 5. Phantom Blade Zero is sacrificing the cutting-edge UE5 features to avoid optimization problems seen in many AAA titles at this point.
Why it matters: Unlike Black Myth: Wukong, Phantom Blade Zero avoids resource-consuming UE5 features that only bring limited benefits with huge hits to performance.
As clarified by Digital Foundry in a new hands-on analysis, Phantom Blade Zero is not using Lumen and virtual shadow maps and instead relies on baked lighting.
Ray-traced shadows and reflections are also only used in puddles and water surfaces—but not in rougher materials—to avoid performance issues. There’s also no evidence of Nanite being used; regardless, the lighting quality and textures still look natural and appealing.
[Phantom Blade Zero is] an unreal engine 5 title that isn’t actually using all of its cutting-edge features – but impresses nonetheless.-Digital Foundry.
The Phantom Blade Zero demo was tested on a high-end PC allegedly powered by RTX 5090 and DLSS enabled. The game ran at uncapped frame rates, but minor stutters were still present in the demo.
Phantom Blade Zero is aiming to be a fun but challenging experience, with an extreme mode that even removes preset combos.
It is expected to launch late next year on PlayStation 5 and PC. Being developed with a $55M budget, the game is shaping up to be a unique experience set between the Souls-like and action genres.
Do you think Phantom Blade Zero will be a better technical experience than games like Black Myth: Wukong, or will it end up sacrificing too much for performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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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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