Phantom Blade Zero news
Every Phantom Blade Zero story worth knowing before and after launch, newest first. Each one is dated and linked to the source it came from.
Every story, newest first
Announcement · Patch 1.0302256: Hua grabs less, PC starts faster, two new hit-sound slidersThe first update since launch, out November 4: Hua, Deadly Betrothed grabs less on Wayfarer and Pathbreaker, and PC skips ray tracing shaders at startup.
Announcement · Phantom Blade Zero reviews: S-GAME counts ten 10/10s, averages now 89 and 88S-GAME's 3 Days to Go graphic lists 29 critic scores of 9/10 or more, ten of them perfect. Its 92 and 89 averages read 89 and 88 on October 28.
Trailer · Launch trailer: S-GAME confirms the unlock time, preload, and a PS5 disc in 2027The Official Launch Trailer sets launch for 10 AM Beijing time on October 29, preload two days earlier, and shows three PS5 disc editions for 2027.
Specs · PS5 preload points to October 27, with a 134.8 GB downloadPlayStation Store backend data shows the PS5 preload opening two days before launch, and a download of 134.8 GB. S-GAME has not announced either figure.
Announcement · Director: at least 50 bosses, one per weapon, and enemies never respawnIn an October 9 interview, director Soulframe Liang tied every weapon to a boss, putting the count at 50 or more, and confirmed defeated enemies stay dead.
Announcement · Phantom Blade Zero is 25 to 30 hours long, says its directorOn October 8, director Soulframe Liang put a full playthrough at 25 to 30 hours for an experienced player, and repeated that the Platinum takes one run.
Editions · Play-Asia pulls its PS5 disc listing, then S-GAME announces discs for 2027Play-Asia pulled its PS5 disc listing after being told there would be no physical edition. Update: S-GAME has since announced PS5 discs for 2027.
Sales · Phantom Blade Zero nears 500,000 Steam pre-ordersPhantom Blade Zero had about 500,000 Steam pre-orders worth some $24 million a week before launch, up from 386,000 a month out, analysts estimate.
Sales · Phantom Blade Zero passes 3 million wishlists five weeks before launchS-GAME's wuxia action RPG crossed 3 million wishlists across PS5 and PC five weeks before its October 29 launch, with Steam pre-orders past $14.5 million.
Announcement · Phantom Blade Zero's Platinum takes one run, even on the easiest difficultyThe director says every trophy is obtainable on the first three difficulties: a single Wayfarer playthrough is enough, and 66 Days is not required.
Announcement · Director's post: weapons level to 30, a wooden sword can finish the game, and 66 Days has no manual savesOn the original September 9 launch date, Soulframe Liang detailed weapon growth, how 66 Days saves, the casting of Soul and Zuo Shang, and fighting Mó Yuan.
Trailer · State of Play deep dive: 8 regions, 30+ weapons and a 66-life modeA 20-minute State of Play showed the map, the skill tree, weapon upgrades, four difficulty modes and Donnie Yen's role in the game.
Editions · China-only Collector's Edition comes with a Soul figurine and no disc20,000 units at about $180 through JD.com: a WeGame code, a 1/12 Soul figure, a lion-head pendant and a printed weapon guide.- Specs · PC requirements revealed: GTX 1660 minimum, RTX 5080 for 4K path tracingModest specs at 1080p and 1440p, an SSD on every tier, an RTX 5080 for 4K path tracing, DLSS 4.5 with Multi Frame Generation, and Denuvo on Steam.
Editions · Phantom Blade Zero × Fortnite: pre-purchase on Epic to unlock the Soul outfitBuying the game on the Epic Games Store adds the Soul Outfit, Sanguine Pickaxe and Sanguine Back Bling to Fortnite; the set also hits the Item Shop at launch.
Announcement · Pre-orders open with an 11-minute trailer, and Donnie Yen as Mó YuanStandard at $59.99, Digital Deluxe at $69.99, on PS5, Steam and Epic. The 11-minute trailer's last reveal: Donnie Yen plays Soul's father, Mó Yuan.
Delay · Phantom Blade Zero delayed from September 9 to October 29S-GAME moved launch by seven weeks to spend the time on bug fixing and optimisation, aiming to ship without a large day-one patch.