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If Phantom Blade Zero will not start downloading, crawls at a few megabytes per second, freezes on a percentage, or fails during installation, first identify whether the problem is the PlayStation or Steam service, your network, available storage, or the installation hardware. On PS5, follow PlayStation’s order: check service status, test the connection, pause and resume (or cancel and redownload), verify storage and system software, then use Safe Mode’s cache and database repair. On PC, verify the required SSD and system specifications before changing network settings. A motionless progress bar can also mean disk unpacking or verification rather than a stalled internet connection.
Start by identifying exactly where the process stops
“Pre-load stuck” can describe several different failures. The correct fix depends on the stage:
- Download does not begin: the store queue, account, service status, or free-space check is usually the first place to look.
- Download is moving but very slowly: compare the measured network rate with other downloads and check whether another device or application is using the connection.
- Percentage appears frozen: the launcher may be unpacking, decrypting, or verifying data on the drive while network traffic temporarily falls to zero.
- Download completes but installation fails: insufficient space, an unsuitable target drive, corrupted data, or an update problem is more likely than bandwidth.
- The game remains locked after installation: the console or launcher may need an account-license refresh, a system update, or a clean download.
Before deleting anything, record the platform (PS5 or Windows PC), country or store region, exact error code, free space on the target drive, and whether another download works. Note the time the problem occurred. Those details prevent repeating steps that cannot address the actual failure.
PS5: use PlayStation’s troubleshooting sequence
PlayStation’s support guidance puts service and queue checks ahead of a reinstall. A service outage can make a healthy console look broken, and deleting a partially downloaded game removes data that might otherwise resume.
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1. Check PlayStation service status
Open the PlayStation status page and look for an incident affecting downloads, the PlayStation Store, or account services. If an outage is shown, wait for recovery before repeatedly cancelling the item. A local reset cannot repair a platform-wide interruption.
2. Pause and resume the download
- Open the PS5 Downloads/Uploads view.
- Select Phantom Blade Zero and choose Pause.
- Wait several seconds, then choose Resume.
Watch whether the percentage and transfer rate change. This refreshes the queue without discarding the existing data.
3. Cancel and delete only when resume fails
If pausing and resuming has no effect, select the item in Downloads/Uploads, choose Cancel and Delete, and start a fresh download from Game Library. This is the official next step for a PS5 download that will not start. You will need to download the content again, so use it after confirming that the service is operating and that the console has enough free space.
4. Confirm space and system software
Check the free-space figure shown for the game and compare it with the available space on the internal drive. Keep additional working room for temporary download, unpacking, and installation files; the authoritative listing does not publish a universal download-size figure, so do not rely on an internet estimate. Install the latest PS5 system software before trying again.
PS5 network and storage checks
Test the connection from the console
- Open Settings > Network > Connection Status.
- Choose Test Internet Connection.
- Run the test while the download is stopped, then retry the download after the result appears.
A successful test does not guarantee that the PlayStation Store is currently delivering data at full speed, but it distinguishes a basic local connection failure from a queue or service problem.
Prefer a wired connection for a large download
Where practical, connect the PS5 by Ethernet during the download. Wi-Fi signal changes, interference, and congestion can cause a fluctuating rate even when ordinary web browsing works. If Ethernet is not possible, move the console closer to the access point, stop other high-bandwidth activity, and avoid repeatedly restarting the router while the store service itself may be having trouble.
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Use internal storage when an external drive behaves abnormally
If the game is being installed on USB extended storage and installation or launching behaves unusually, move the installation to the PS5’s internal storage and retry. This is a diagnostic step: it separates an external-drive path problem from a download-service problem. Do not disconnect an extended drive while data is being written.
PS5 Safe Mode: clear cache and rebuild the database
When service status, the queue, connection test, free space, and system software are all in order but the download remains frozen, start the PS5 in Safe Mode and choose Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. PlayStation lists this as an additional remedy for stuck downloads and game-start failures.
Use the Safe Mode option exactly as labelled. It is a console-maintenance step, not evidence that Phantom Blade Zero itself is defective. After the repair completes, return to the normal interface and retry the download. If the item was previously cancelled, begin it again from Game Library.
Common PS5 error codes and the useful next action
| Error code | What it indicates | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| CE-107928-7 | Download stopped | Check PlayStation status, test the connection, pause and resume, then cancel and redownload if necessary. |
| CE-112987-8 | Problem while purchasing, downloading, or installing content | Confirm account/store service availability, free storage, and system software; retry the queue before escalating. |
| CE-120706-6 | Update failed to install | Check available storage and system software, retry the update, and use the Safe Mode cache/database repair if the failure persists. |
Copy the code exactly, including every hyphen. Similar-looking codes can represent different stages, and support will use the precise value to narrow the diagnosis.
PS5 game-start problems after the download finishes
If the installation completes but the game will not start or appears locked, restart the console first. PlayStation’s game-start guidance also includes restoring licenses, deleting and redownloading the game, updating system software, using a wired connection, and clearing the cache and rebuilding the database in Safe Mode.
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Restore licenses before deleting a working installation when the symptom is a lock icon or ownership check rather than a missing file. Redownload only after recording the error and confirming that the account that purchased or claimed the game is signed in. A clean download cannot fix an account entitlement problem, and an entitlement refresh cannot repair a damaged installation.
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Windows PC: verify the installation baseline before troubleshooting speed
Steam lists an SSD installation as required. If the target drive is a hard disk, nearly full, or unavailable to the launcher, changing DNS or restarting the router will not solve the installation failure. Confirm the 64-bit operating system, memory, processor, graphics card, DirectX version, and storage type first.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10/11 | 64-bit Windows 10/11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i5-10600K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GTX 1660 6GB or RX 5500 XT 8GB | RTX 3060 Ti 8GB or RX 6700 XT 12GB |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
| Storage | SSD installation required | SSD installation required |
These are Steam’s published requirements. They establish the supported baseline, not a guaranteed frame rate or a guaranteed download duration. The listing does not provide an authoritative universal download-size number.
Tell a slow network transfer from slow disk work
PC launchers commonly alternate between downloading compressed chunks and writing, unpacking, or verifying them. During disk work, the network meter may fall to zero while the progress indicator appears unchanged. Open Windows’ Task Manager and watch both the network and disk columns for the launcher or game process:
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- Network low, disk high: unpacking or verification is likely; allow the drive time to finish.
- Both low for an extended period: inspect the launcher queue, free space, drive health, and any displayed error.
Do not terminate the launcher merely because the network graph is flat. Interrupting an unpacking phase can force another verification pass or leave the queue needing repair.
PC checks for capacity, permissions, and the target drive
- Confirm free space on the selected SSD. Leave room beyond the displayed game requirement for temporary download and unpacking files. Because no authoritative file-size figure is established, avoid treating third-party estimates as a guaranteed requirement.
- Confirm the launcher is using the intended library. A nearly full secondary drive can fail even when the Windows system drive has plenty of space.
- Check that the SSD is available and writable. If other applications cannot create files there, resolve the Windows permissions or drive problem before retrying the game.
- Pause competing disk activity. Large file copies, antivirus scans, backups, and another game installation can make unpacking appear frozen.
- Retry after the drive is healthy and has room. If the same chunk fails repeatedly, preserve the exact launcher message and timestamp rather than repeatedly deleting the library.
When the download will not start on PC
First inspect the launcher’s download queue and make sure the game is not waiting behind another update. Confirm that the account is signed in and that the store displays the title as owned or available to install. Then check the SSD target and free space. If other titles download normally but Phantom Blade Zero does not, record the title-specific error and the time; the issue may be a store entitlement or content-service problem rather than your broadband connection.
A restart can clear a transient launcher state, but it should come after recording the message. If a restart changes nothing, do not infer that the game needs a larger internet plan: an install blocked by disk capacity, write access, or unpacking is not a speed problem.
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Release timing, preload, and the missing size figure
The Steam listing shows a 28 October 2026 release date, while PlayStation’s official announcement says 29 October 2026. Storefront dates can differ by timezone, so follow the countdown displayed in your own store and region. Those dates do not establish a universal preload start time.
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No authoritative page in the available information confirms one universal preload window or download-size figure. Treat a third-party “preload size” as an estimate unless your store displays a size for your specific edition and platform. The safe preparation is to use an SSD on PC, keep ample free space on the PS5 or PC target drive, and start the download when the store makes it available.
PS5 and PC: what differs when you troubleshoot
| Check | PS5 | Windows PC |
|---|---|---|
| Service dependency | PlayStation status, Store, account and download services | Steam service, account and content delivery |
| Queue controls | Downloads/Uploads: pause/resume, then Cancel and Delete | Inspect the launcher queue and any waiting update before restarting |
| Storage baseline | Verify the console’s displayed free space; test internal storage if USB extended storage misbehaves | SSD is required; verify the selected library is writable and has working room |
| Network path | Run Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection; Ethernet is preferred where practical | Compare launcher network activity with Windows disk activity to distinguish transfer from unpacking |
| Repair option | Safe Mode: Clear Cache and Rebuild Database | Preserve launcher errors and inspect drive, queue and capacity rather than applying a PS5 repair |
| Best escalation evidence | Error code, timestamp, region, storage, connection-test result, screenshots or video | Exact launcher wording, timestamp, target drive, free space and whether other titles download |
The same frozen percentage therefore has different first checks. PS5 users should start with PlayStation status and queue controls; PC users should establish that the SSD is healthy and watch disk work before assuming a bandwidth limit.
When to stop troubleshooting and contact support
Escalate after the official sequence has failed: status check, connection test, queue reset, storage and system-update checks, and (on PS5) Safe Mode cache/database repair. Include:
- Platform and region.
- Exact error code or the complete on-screen wording.
- Date and timestamp, including your time zone.
- Available storage and the drive used for the installation.
- Result of the PS5 internet test or the relevant PC network observation.
- Whether other games or downloads work.
- The precise step that failed after a pause/resume or a fresh download.
- Screenshots or a short video showing the queue, percentage, and error.
PlayStation specifically asks for the error message, a detailed reproduction description, timestamp, and screenshots or video when contacting support. Supplying that evidence is more useful than reporting only that the download is “stuck.”
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- Is the store service reporting an outage? Wait for recovery.
- Has the download started? If not, inspect the queue, account status, and free space. If yes, continue.
- Is disk activity high while network activity is low? Allow unpacking or verification to finish.
- Does the platform meet the storage and system requirements? On PC, the SSD requirement is mandatory; on PS5, verify internal or healthy extended storage and available space.
- Did pause/resume and a fresh download fail? Test the connection, update system software, and use PS5 Safe Mode cache/database repair where applicable.
- Is an exact code still recurring? Preserve the evidence and contact the platform’s support channel.
This order protects the data that can still resume, separates service failures from local hardware limits, and gives support enough information to investigate the remaining case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When can I preload Phantom Blade Zero?
A universal preload window is not confirmed. Steam lists 28 October 2026 and PlayStation’s announcement lists 29 October 2026; storefront dates can differ by timezone, so follow the countdown in your own store and region.
How much storage does Phantom Blade Zero need?
The authoritative pages reviewed do not provide one universal download-size figure. Use the size shown by your specific store edition and leave additional working room for temporary downloading, unpacking and installation.
Why is the PS5 progress bar stuck at one percentage?
Check PlayStation status first, then test the connection. Pause and resume the item; if it remains stuck, cancel and delete it and start again from Game Library. Confirm free space and system software, and use Safe Mode’s Clear Cache and Rebuild Database if needed.
What should I do if Phantom Blade Zero will not start downloading on PS5?
Check for a PlayStation service incident, inspect Downloads/Uploads, pause and resume, then use Cancel and Delete followed by a fresh download. Confirm free storage and install the latest PS5 system software.
Is an SSD required for the Steam version?
Yes. Steam lists SSD installation as required, along with 64-bit Windows 10/11, 16 GB RAM, DirectX 12, and at least an Intel Core i7-8700K or Ryzen 5 3600 with a GTX 1660 6GB or RX 5500 XT 8GB.
Why does Steam show no network activity while the install is stuck?
The launcher may be unpacking or verifying data on the drive. In Task Manager, high disk activity with low network activity indicates disk work; allow it to finish instead of terminating the launcher.
What do PS5 codes CE-107928-7, CE-112987-8 and CE-120706-6 mean?
CE-107928-7 indicates a stopped download; CE-112987-8 indicates a problem purchasing, downloading or installing content; CE-120706-6 indicates an update-install failure. Record the exact code and follow the status, queue, storage, system-update and Safe Mode steps appropriate to the stage.
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Provide the exact error message, a detailed reproduction description, date and time, platform and region, available storage, connection-test result, the step that failed, and screenshots or video of the queue and error.
The Bottom Line
Start with the service and queue, not a blind reinstall. On PS5, check status, test the connection, pause/resume, then cancel and redownload, verify space and system software, and use Safe Mode cache/database repair if the problem persists. On PC, an SSD and the published Windows, RAM, CPU, GPU and DirectX baseline are mandatory. When a percentage appears frozen, check disk activity before blaming bandwidth, and preserve the exact code and timestamps for support.
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