S-Game has announced that their upcoming action RPG Phantom Blade Zero has been delayed from its original release date of September 9th to October 29th.
The news came in a lengthy post via X where the CEO of S-Game, Soulframe, cited the delay as a final polish pass for the game’s character models and environments. Soulframe (not to be confused with Digital Extremes’ game, Soulframe) states that this results directly from these elements being upgraded over the course of its lengthy development. You can read the full statement from Soulframe below:
Official Statement from Soulframe, CEO of S-Games
Hello everyone,
As many of you just saw in today’s State of Play, pre-orders for Phantom Blade Zero will open this summer! At the same time, I want to share another update: Phantom Blade Zero will now launch on October 29, 2026, moved from its previous date of September 9, 2026.
First of all, I want to offer my sincere apologies to all the players who have been following and supporting us. This was not an easy decision. More than anyone, we understand the expectations our players have placed on us. And precisely because of those expectations, we do not want to release Phantom Blade Zero knowing there is still an opportunity to take it one step further.Looking back over the past few years, the development of Phantom Blade Zero has been a thrilling journey of evolution. As we built the game, we continued learning, refining our technology, and expanding the scale and resources behind the project. From its first reveal in 2023, to its first offline hands-on demo in 2024, to the Seven-Star Sword Formation, Lion Dance, and Drunken Sword showcased in 2025, Phantom Blade Zero has continued to evolve year after year, with each new showing representing a clear leap forward from the last. And we have shared that evolution with players around the world every step of the way.
Over the past few months, we have been streamlining content and focusing our efforts on polishing the areas that matter most. During this process, I saw one final opportunity for Phantom Blade Zero to make another meaningful leap forward. We have upgraded a number of character models and reworked many environments across the game, pushing them toward the highest standard we can currently achieve. We have also spent additional effort preserving as much of this visual impact as possible even without relying on ray tracing. Of course, ray tracing will further enhance the visuals, but our priority is to make sure the core look, atmosphere, and intensity of Phantom Blade Zero come through at full force for as many players as possible.
A 50-day delay cannot solve everything. But it does give us enough time to complete a number of clearly defined and genuinely important improvements. These refinements will directly affect how the game feels when players first step into the world of Phantom Blade Zero. We could have delivered some of them through post-launch updates, but for the players who choose to join us on day one, we believe they deserve the best version of Phantom Blade Zero we can deliver from the very beginning. I am truly sorry for the delay, and I want to thank everyone who has continued to follow and support Phantom Blade Zero. This summer, we will have much more to show you. I believe every extra day of waiting will be worth it. I’d also like to share what you can expect next:
1. A new trailer that will release alongside pre-orders, featuring entirely new in-game footage.
2. After pre-order opens, we will also have a dedicated State of Play focused entirely on Phantom Blade Zero: a 15-to-20-minute deep dive into the game’s world, combat, exploration, and character progression systems.
The vast majority of what we show there will be brand-new.
We will share the exact dates in upcoming announcements! Once again, thank you all for your continued support!
Soulframe S-GAME CEO / Creator of Phantom Blade Zero
As alluded to above, news of this delay followed the game’s presence in the latest Sony State of Play. A short teaser trailer was shown alongside confirmations that both pre-orders will go live and a Phantom Blade Zero-focused State of Play will air this summer. Check out the trailer below!
Phantom Blade Zero Special Teaser
Phantom Blade Zero puts players in the role of Soul, an assassin with 66 days to live. In a fateful confrontation, leaving his master dead and Soul with a ruined heart, he must travel across a world inspired by Wuxia, dark fantasy, and martial art epics. Across that journey, players will engage in rapid real-time combat as Soul, wielding over thirty weapons against a vast array of bosses that, when bested, provide new weapons and techniques to further Soul’s fights beyond. For a detailed synopsis, check out below:
The Lone Wolf’s Path
Framed for the death of his master and left with a ruined heart, Soul has sixty-six days to live. Alone and hunted by his former comrades, he moves through a world of shifting loyalties and silent blades — determined to unravel the conspiracy that has condemned him.
Rain mixes with blood, mercy entangles with vengeance. Soul’s journey is one of love, hate, and the fragile search for what it means to have a heart.
A Masterful Blend of Traditional Wuxia, Fantasy, and Folk Horror
Explore a world beyond imagination. Shifting realities, echoes of memories long since passed, augmentation, and beings of higher power await in Phantom Blade Zero.
A rumor, a story, a whisper — every thread a trail to unraveling a larger mystery. Navigate through a web of intrigue and lies to uncover the truth.
An Extensive Arsenal Is At Your Disposal
A fighter’s worth lies in their weapons.
Over thirty weapons are yours to wield, with more than twenty unique “Phantom Edges” to mix and match to suit your playstyle.
Defeat powerful foes to obtain their weapons, and with it, their signature techniques. Grow your arsenal and defeat all who stand in your path.
Introducing “Kungfupunk”
Inspired by the Golden Age of Hong Kong action films, the world of Phantom Blade Zero blends fierce martial arts with machinery, amplifying an exhilarating clash of steel on steel.
Ancient codes meet iron and smoke; tradition thrums to a modern beat. A new style is forged in this melding of mediums. This is Kungfupunk.
An Authentic Kungfu Experience
Built in Unreal Engine 5 and through the use of state-of-the-art motion capture, Phantom Blade Zero brings together legendary fight choreography from Hong Kong’s Golden Age of martial arts cinema.
Every strike and stance draws from authentic martial arts techniques, captured with the precision of film, is reborn through modern game design.
This is Chinese kungfu reimagined for a new generation.
Phantom Blade Zero Screenshots
If you’re curious about what RPGFan thinks of Phantom Blade Zero, check out Mario Garcia’s 2024 hands-on preview.
As a mainstay in our most anticipated lists, it’s good to see Phantom Blade Zero slowly but surely making its way to launch. I’m curious to see how S-Game deepens what we understand about the game in the intervening months, and there seems to be little doubt that the extra time will be put to good use. Rest assured, we here at RPGFan will continue to provide updates on any news on Phantom Blade Zero to come.
Phantom Blade Zero will launch on October 29th for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Stay tuned to RPGFan for all news RPG!
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