Phantom Blade Zero’s developer has clarified that the game cannot simply be labeled as a Soulslike or a traditional hack-and-slash. Instead, they describe it as a "Wuxia Action Game," blending elements of Chinese martial arts with a rich, steampunk aesthetic. This follows the unveiling of a six-minute gameplay trailer at a PlayStation event earlier this year, as well as a cinematic announcement trailer that introduced the white-haired katana-wielding protagonist.
While Phantom Blade Zero contains familiar elements like stamina management, parry mechanics, and tense boss fights, the team behind S-GAME aims to move beyond genre comparisons. CEO Qiwei Liang explained that early impressions may have mischaracterized the game due to its resemblance to Soulslikes, but the game ultimately draws inspiration from action cinema and wuxia myths. According to Liang, Phantom Blade Zero is meant to stand on its own as a new, cinematic experience that fuses intense hack-and-slash gameplay with deeper world-building.
Although a release date has not been announced yet, Liang confirmed that news will come before the end of 2025. Fans can look forward to a hands-on demo at Shougang Park in China, where early gameplay is available for testing. Rumors of a downloadable demo for PC and PS5 persist, though S-GAME has not yet confirmed this. Despite the wait, players remain highly enthusiastic about the game’s distinctive action style and cinematic flair.