iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Phantom Blade Zero is not the result of 15 years of continuous development. Its creative roots reach back to Rainblood: Town of Death, a 2010 RPG Maker game made by S-GAME founder Soulframe Liang. In the years that followed, the studio built the Rainblood and Phantom Blade franchise through other games, including mobile releases. Liang’s long-held ambition was to make a larger action game in that world; the sources do not identify a budget for the project.
What does the “15 years” claim actually mean?
It describes the distance between an early creative ambition and the scale of game Liang eventually wanted to make—not a documented 15-year production schedule for Phantom Blade Zero. In a May 2023 PlayStation Blog post, Liang traced the franchise to a game he made himself with RPG Maker in 2010: Rainblood: Town of Death. He said he was studying architecture at the time and that making the game provided an escape from personal difficulties.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Stellar Blade - PlayStation 5 | $46.30 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls- PlayStation 5 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Persona 3 Reload: Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Dolmen - PlayStation 5 | $31.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Liang’s account is one of creative continuity: the original project grew into a franchise, later renamed Phantom Blade, while the studio’s work and business evolved. He said most of the intervening games were smartphone releases that did not launch outside China. The same post attributes a fan base of “over 20 million” to Liang; it does not define whether that means players, accounts or downloads, so it should not be read as an audited sales figure.
Were there two RPG Maker games?
Only one is specifically confirmed as an RPG Maker game in the sources available: Rainblood: Town of Death. A 2025 PC Gamer interview says Liang completed a second RPG before choosing not to take an architecture-office job in New York and instead returning to China to start a small studio. It does not name that second RPG or establish that it was made with RPG Maker. Calling both games “RPG-Maker games” goes beyond what these accounts verify.
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning PS5 visuals: Explore vibrant futuristic environments, and engage with a cast of original friends and foes from the creative minds of the SHIFT UP team, led by renowned artist Kim Hyung Tae.
- Ultra high-speed SSD: Explore new locations, overcome powerful enemies, and encounter jaw-dropping revelations as you advance relentlessly through EVE’s mission with lightning-fast load times.
- Adaptive triggers: Unleash devastating yet graceful acrobatic moves, and interact with the technological remnants of an abandoned Earth using the DualSense wireless controller’s adaptive triggers.
- Haptic feedback: Feel the thrill of combat as your blade slashes its way to victory, with sensations enriched by the DualSense wireless controller’s responsive vibrations.
- Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
The studio’s subsequent lineage included the side-scrolling action game Rain Blood Chronicles: Mirage and Phantom Blade: Executioners. Liang said the earlier side-scrolling scale and kung fu moves were not enough to express his idea for the Phantom world. His stated ambition helps explain why Phantom Blade Zero is framed as a larger culmination of that creative lineage rather than simply the next installment in a continuous production.
How was the game funded, and what did it cost?
No budget amount is disclosed in the sources reviewed. PC Gamer reports that S-GAME initially expected to use income from its mobile games to fund a smaller version of Phantom Blade Zero. The project expanded after Tencent invested in it, while S-GAME retained development and publishing control, according to the interview. That is a funding account, not a published production-cost figure.
Rank #2
- Assemble your team of legendary Marvel characters in the ultimate 4v4 tag team fighter from PlayStation Studios, Arc System Works and Marvel Games.
- Experiment with team compositions to discover new combos, synergies, and strategies. Blast your way through dynamic stages based on iconic Marvel Universe locales, some featuring interactive stage transitions.
- Fighting is both immersive and intuitive, with a range of unique move sets, combos, and strategies to master. Adjustable controls, both traditional and quick inputs, plus easy chain combos make diving right in a breeze.
- Face off against a friend locally or join the fray with up to 64 players in the online lobby, including standard VS modes. Plus, dive deep on each team with the single player Episode Mode to learn more about team dynamics and lore.
Liang summed up his studio’s philosophy in the same interview: “Yeah—many people are making games for money, but we make money for games.” It is his description of the studio’s priorities, not a formal financial statement.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What kind of action game is Phantom Blade Zero?
S-GAME describes the setting as the Phantom World and its aesthetic as “Kungfupunk,” mixing Chinese kung fu, steampunk-like machinery, occult elements, fantasy and punk styling. The protagonist, Soul, is an elite assassin framed for killing the patriarch of a powerful organization called the Order. A mystic healer saves him, but the cure lasts only 66 days; Soul must uncover who arranged the events as he faces enemies and monsters. These are details from the studio’s 2023 game description.
Rank #3
- Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI.
- Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes and character interactions, additional voiceover, and a reloaded soundtrack.
- Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters.
- Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
Fast, elaborate combat and a semi-open world
Liang has described the game as fast and elaborate, with an action ambition shaped by kung fu cinema rather than a slower, more strategic action style. He characterized its world as semi-open: a set of reasonably sized, handcrafted maps populated with activities, not one continuous map. Those descriptions are more useful than treating a store genre tag as a definitive classification. In particular, Steam’s Souls-like tag is user-defined and does not by itself establish how the game plays.
The 2023 developer account described action director Kenji Tanigaki demonstrating moves for camera-array reference and said the team used handcrafted animation because it believed motion capture could not do those movements justice. That account reflects the approach described at the time, not a complete description of final animation production: later marketing also discusses motion capture and collaboration with a choreographer.
Rank #4
- Dolmen is a terrifying new action RPG that combines futuristic Sci-Fi and Cosmic Horror elements
- Dolmen casts players onto a hostile alien world known as Revion Prime - Your job is to bring back samples of a crystal with particularly unique properties - the so-called "Dolmen"
- Experience a rich combat system with various weapons and moves at your disposal
- Energy management is key to victory in Dolmen - Energy is not only used for ranged weapons, but also for activating "Energy Mode"
- Revion Prime offers a wide array of gruesome obstacles that will put your skills to the test
Weapons, builds and story paths
In an August 17, 2026 PlayStation Blog deep dive, Liang described side quests that may open story paths and add context about the Wulin. The post says players can unlock more than 30 main weapons and 25 secondary weapons called Phantom Edges, upgrade weapons, combine them with accessories and reforge a weapon to reclaim its materials for another build. These are publisher-provided feature descriptions, not independent hands-on findings.
When does Phantom Blade Zero release, and where can you play it?
As of October 9, 2026, S-GAME’s official site lists October 29, 2026 as the release date. The studio’s pre-order announcement lists PS5, Steam and Epic Games Store. Steam’s store listing gives October 28, one day earlier, so check the relevant storefront close to release. Steam names S-GAME Studio as developer and S-GAME Publishing as publisher.
The date has changed before. In a June 2026 creative-director letter, S-GAME said the game had moved from September 9 to October 29—a 50-day delay intended to improve character models, rework environments and complete other polish. That letter explains the earlier change; it cannot guarantee that the listed date will not change again.
Standard and Deluxe editions
S-GAME’s official site lists Standard and Deluxe editions. The Deluxe edition is described as including the full game, preorder early unlocks, two exclusive outfits, a digital artbook and a digital soundtrack. The site says the early-unlock content can also be obtained through in-game progression. Confirm the edition contents and regional pricing on the storefront where you plan to buy.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute
