State of Play deep dive: 8 regions, 30+ weapons and a 66-life mode
A 20-minute State of Play showed the map, the skill tree, weapon upgrades, four difficulty modes and Donnie Yen's role in the game.
- Regions
- 8
- Primary weapons
- 30+
- Phantom Edges
- 25
- Difficulty modes
- 4
Eight regions, not an open world
Sony's dedicated State of Play gave Phantom Blade Zero twenty minutes. The world is eight interconnected, handcrafted regions — not an open world — each with an ink-wash map, bells for fast travel and a tracker of what it hides.
Weapons and upgrades
Soul can collect more than 30 primary weapons and 25 Phantom Edges. Weapons are upgraded with Remnant Dust, Twinned Metal and Solvent, and any upgrade can be reverted for a full refund.
A skill tree paid with collectibles
The skill tree is paid for with collectibles rather than experience: Sha-Chi Amber Shards, Blackstone Shards and Memory Flowers found in the world.
Four difficulties, including 66 Days
Four difficulties were confirmed: Wayfarer, Pathbreaker, Hellwalker — with adaptive bosses and no fixed patterns — and 66 Days, which gives you 66 lives and unlocks after finishing the game.
Donnie Yen plays Mó Yuan
Donnie Yen is a creative consultant and plays Mó Yuan, Soul's father.
Last verified Aug 17, 2026
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