Software:Phantom Blade Zero

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Short description: Upcoming video game
Phantom Blade Zero
Developer(s)S-GAME
Publisher(s)S-GAME
Director(s)Soulframe LiangTemplate:Two pixel space[lower-alpha 1][5]
Producer(s)Soulframe LiangTemplate:Two pixel space[1][6]
Artist(s)Michael ChangTemplate:Two pixel space[1][6]
Composer(s)Caisheng BoTemplate:Two pixel space[6][7]
SeriesPhantom BladeTemplate:Two pixel space[lower-alpha 2][9]
EngineUnreal Engine 5
Platform(s)
Release9 September 2026
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Phantom Blade ZeroTemplate:Two pixel space[lower-alpha 3] is an upcoming wuxia action role-playing game developed and published by S-GAME. The player assumes the role of Soul, an elite assassin in the service of an elusive and powerful organization known as The Order. Set in the Phantom World, the story is centered on his mission to unravel the conspiracy behind the murder of The Order's patriarch.

Phantom Blade Zero is scheduled to be released for PlayStation 5 and Windows on 9 September 2026.

Gameplay

Phantom Blade Zero is an action role-playing game.[11][12] It is played from a third-person perspective.[11]

The player controls Soul, an elite assassin in the service of an elusive and powerful organization known as The Order.[3] He can carry two primary weapons and two secondary weapons.[13][14][15] Blades are his primary weapons.[16] They each have a power surge, which functions as an ultimate ability.[17] Phantom edges are his secondary weapons.[18] They comprise a range of diverse weapons, such as canons, lances, axes, hammers, and more.[16] Sha-chi is used as a combat resource for sha-chi attacks (heavy attacks) and blocks.[19]

Defensive maneuvers consist of blocking, parrying, and dodging.[19] However, some enemy attacks carry restrictions in the ways defenses can counter them: brutal moves drain sha-chi heavily when blocked, while killer moves cannot be blocked or parried.[20] A ghostep (a maneuver that repositions the character behind the enemy) is triggered when a brutal move is parried or a killer move is dodged right before it lands.[20]

There is a skill tree.[15] Additionally, weapons can be upgraded, which may unlock new skills and movements.[15]

The game is set in a semi-open world.[3][21][22][23] Its regions are seamlessly connected together and may initially be inaccessible, but they can be reached through non-linear means and have multiple possible paths.[24] For example, some weapons can be acquired and used to access areas that were previously unreachable.[15] The main story features eight distinct endings, which are influenced by side quests.[25]

The game includes multiple difficulty options that affect elements such as stats, mechanics, and AI.[26] It includes a New Game Plus mode.[27]

Synopsis

Setting

Phantom Blade Zero is a game based on the wuxia tradition.[28][29] Soulframe Liang commented that "Broadly speaking, it falls under the category of ARPGs. But more specifically – maybe it could create a new identity that is Wuxia Action Games?"[30] It particularly introduces kungfupunk, as termed by Liang.[lower-alpha 4][3][12][14][23] This is a distinctive style blending traditional kungfu with steampunk and cyberpunk.[12] When asked about the difficulties of introducing culturally unfamiliar themes to Western audiences, Liang acknowledged that while these themes may initially pose challenges, games that deliver high quality and enjoyable experiences can transform these themes into a strength that attracts players.[32]

Phantom Blade Zero takes place in the Phantom World.[3][16] This universe is based on China during the Ming dynasty, with elements of wuxia, steampunk, cyberpunk, dark fantasy, horror, and more.[16] The game conveys an atmosphere reminiscent of the jianghu, a domain where folk exist outside the sphere of the imperial court and government.[33]

The protagonist Soul is a heroic figure who embodies the essense of a xiake.[34] Liang described him as "[...] this kind of character is a very typical Eastern hero. He's not so talkative, doesn't use a lot of words, but he's badass, swift, and fast. Cold on the outside, but warm and hot inside, in the heart. He always wants to help the weak, although he himself only has limited days to live. We call this 'Xiake (侠客)', which means the Chinese version, the Kung Fu version, of heroes."[35]

Plot

The elite assassin Soul serves an elusive and powerful organization known as The Order, but he is framed for the murder of its patriarch. He is gravely wounded in the heart during the ensuing manhunt, but he survives and is given 66 days to live through a mystic healer's temporary cure. With time running out, Soul sets out to unravel the conspiracy that has condemned him.[36]

Development

Phantom Blade Zero is a game developed and published by S-GAME.[10] The studio is based in Beijing, China.[37][38] It also has a motion capture and animator team in Shanghai, an art team in Hong Kong, and a global publishing team in Los Angeles.[15]

According to Soulframe Liang, Phantom Blade Zero represents a return to the origins of the Rainblood series, drawing on the narrative framework of the first and second games, and introduces a wealth of new content.[39] He presented the game as "the spiritual rebirth of the original Rainblood".[3][21] He elaborated that the new story requires no prior knowledge, as it contains all content within, and differs significantly from the earlier titles.[34] The game is built using Unreal Engine 5.[15][40]

S-GAME started the full-scale development of Phantom Blade Zero in 2022 and had plans for the game since 2017.[15] Throughout 2017, a few early concepts and other preliminary work were shared.[41][42][43][44] This included, for example, concept art of four characters designed by Michael Chang, which was shown during ChinaJoy 2017.[41] Around Chinese New Year in 2017, the decision was made to shift from the 2D graphics reminiscent of the previous games to 3D graphics.[45] This led to the choice to use Unreal Engine 4.[45] In 2018, the project was put on hold due to what was considered an unfavorable environment for developing this kind of game.[46] In 2021, interest in the project was revived following an improvement in the conditions.[46] That same year, Tencent proposed and formalized a partnership deal to provide financial support along with other necessary assistance, as the company had learned about the studio's goals to develop large-scale PC and console games.[39] At the time, the studio had plans for two projects using Unreal Engine 5 in this category, namely Phantom Blade Zero and Stellar Saga, the latter set in space and centered on humanity's struggle for survival amid the high-dimensional wars of advanced civilizations.[39] Liang oversaw the development of Phantom Blade Zero and delegated decisions regarding Stellar Saga to trusted colleagues.[46] Ultimately, the studio shifted its focus entirely to Phantom Blade Zero and suspended all other new projects.[47]

S-GAME originally envisioned Phantom Blade Zero as a smaller game, but the attention garnered at the PlayStation Showcase in May 2023 prompted the studio to increase the scale and fully commit to the project.[48] In an interview shortly after the showcase, Liang said that he felt nervous leading up to the event, but that the international reception boosted their confidence and that years earlier, Feng Ji, the producer of Software:Black Myth: Wukong, encouraged him to create a single-player game that could captivate players worldwide.[49] Another turning point came with the 2024 release of the highly successful Black Myth: Wukong, which increased interest in Phantom Blade Zero and led to additional funding for the game from investors.[14] Liang commented that "It's not necessarily changed our [expectations], but maybe it's changed others' expectations and anticipation of us. We did receive more resources, but we also received more pressure from the success of Black Myth: Wukong."[50]

Kenji Tanigaki serves as the action director on Phantom Blade Zero.

The developers aimed to design the game's combat based on Chinese martial arts, drawing inspiration from classic Hong Kong martial arts films and working closely with martial arts instructors.[51] For the action design process, they conducted a nationwide search to trace the roots of Chinese martial arts and meet with their inheritors.[52] This included, for example, masters from the Shaolin Temple, Emei Mountain, and Guangdong's Southern Lion Troupes, among others.[29][52] The developers wanted to create authentic martial arts action, so they emphasized the importance of immersing themselves by going to the communities, mountains, and temples to engage in discussions and train together in order to understand the essence of the martial arts.[52] Motion capture of performances by martial artists was used for the movements of characters.[29][53][54] The performances were done at the same intensity of the in-game action, with the intention to avoid post-production speed adjustments that could make the action appear artificial.[53] A wire rig, operated through a pulley system by multiple crew members, assisted the motion capture actors in executing moves.[53] Kenji Tanigaki, known for his work in kungfu cinema, served as the action director.[3][21] Master Yang, a kungfu expert, served as the combat action director.[53]

A crucial aspect in the action design was that the gameplay embodied the philosophies of Chinese martial arts.[1] For instance, Liang explained that while defense might involve simple blocking motions in other contexts, Chinese martial arts underscores simultaneously attacking and defending in response to the opponent's movements.[1] He said that the goal was not merely for players to perform martial arts moves, but also to understand and apply the principles behind them.[52] Furthermore, each weapon was designed with its own unique action mechanics to ensure all weapons remain novel to use rather than limited by common weapon types.[51] The developers believed that relying on shared basic action mechanics would diminish the distinctiveness of each weapon.[51] Lastly, the action design also emphasized the fluidity of movements through a rich animation set for elements such as transitions (for a natural flow between actions), contextual execution moves, dynamic environmental interactions, and multi-target combat mechanics.[29] Liang described the action as "In Phantom Blade Zero, combat happens at an extremely fast pace. Movement is rapid, attack frequency is high, and you can perform maneuvers like running along walls, teleporting behind enemies, and executing sudden cinematic finishers that dynamically shift the camera to wide or close-up angles, making it feel like you’re in a Kung Fu movie."[29]

The developers created a collective enemy AI, which follows a formation logic, to enable multiple enemies to operate as an interconnected unit.[52] Both collective and individual enemy AIs were integrated into a unified system that governs when enemies strike alone, fight in structured formations, and interact with one another.[51] What often appears to be several enemies attacking at once may actually be a single move modeled across multiple enemies, which results in a visually striking spectacle and keeps encounters relatively manageable.[55] The approach was aimed to avoid a common pitfall in many games, where enemies either overwhelm in swarms or stand idle during multi-enemy battles.[51] The design was inspired by the deliberate combat dynamics employed in wuxia films, where characters not directly engaged in battle contribute to an atmosphere of controlled chaos.[55]

In addition to the martial arts, the developers adapted other Chinese traditions such as southern China's ancestral hall worship rituals, Guangdong's lion dances, Zhejiang's puppetry, Fujian's deity processions, Jiangxi's nuo masks, Sichuan's bianlian (face changing), Beijing opera, China's imperial ceremonies, and more.[52] Liang said that he hopes to help pass on folk culture and intangible cultural heritage.[52] They also scanned real-world objects, ranging from structures such as temples and village homes to weapons and other items.[29]

Multiple actors were cast and underwent facial scans for major roles.[34] The protagonist Soul was portrayed by the model and stage actor Yucheng.[34] The character Mu Xiaokui was portrayed by the actress Zhang Jinzhi.[56]

While composing the game's music, Caisheng Bo sought to capture the essence of traditional Chinese instruments and experimented with blending retro electronic sounds.[7] He noted, for example, that although many people associate the erhu with sorrow, he considers it particularly well suited to the jianghu due to its free-spirited quality.[7] Accordingly, he placed the erhu and electric guitar against each other, in which the former discards its sorrowful connotations as well as articulates a sense of freedom and murderous intent in its sound.[7] Furthermore, Bo worked closely with the sound effects team to ensure that the music is well integrated, so the music complements each moment and environmental sound.[7] He staged the music to establish a kind of a psychological rhythm to enhance the atmosphere.[7] For instance, in the music for Pang Town, he employed a septuple meter that alternates between 4+3 and 3+4 as well as blurs accents to create a sound that conveys a feeling that something is off.[7] In recording strings, he often omitted the second fiddle part to create a sound that feels heavy, dark, and grainy.[7]

Release

Phantom Blade Zero is scheduled to be released for PC and PlayStation 5 on 9 September 2026.[57][58][59]

During an anniversary concert for the Rainblood series on 22 November 2016, S-GAME revealed that the series would be remade with an extended plot in a new game codenamed Yingzhiren Zero (影之刃Zero) in Chinese.[60] The Chinese title was changed to Yingzhiren Ling (影之刃零) by the time of the game's announcement.[40]

During the PlayStation Showcase on 24 May 2023, S-GAME released a trailer announcing Phantom Blade Zero.[23] In January 2025, the studio released a trailer celebrating the Year of the Snake which revealed that a release date would be announced in 2025.[61][62] During The Game Awards in December 2025, the studio released a trailer announcing the release date as 9 September 2026.[57][63] This date was selected in consideration of the market conditions and for the symbolic significance evoked by the numbers 9/9, representing a reversal of fate and an overturning of heaven's order, in allusion to the in-game concept of 66 days.[64]

Following its listing on digital storefronts in December 2025, Phantom Blade Zero was wishlisted over 1 million times within 15 days.[65][66]

Reception

Accolades

Phantom Blade Zero won Most Anticipated Game and was nominated for Phenomenon of the Year at the UCG Game Awards 2024.[67][68] It won Most Anticipated Game at the Ultra Game Awards 2025.[69][70]

Notes

  1. ↑ Liang Qiwei (梁其伟) is known by the pseudonym Soulframe.[1][2] He has used the name Soulframe Liang in English-language public communications.[3][4]
  2. ↑ The franchise was originally known as Rainblood and was later renamed to Phantom Blade.[3] It began with Rainblood: Town of Death, Rainblood 2: City of Flame, and Rainblood Chronicles: Mirage.[8] It was expanded with Phantom Blade 1, Phantom Blade 2, and Phantom Blade 3, which were released for mobile devices.[8] It was joined by Phantom Blade: Executioners, the first global release.[9]
  3. ↑ Chinese: 影之刃零; pinyin: Yǐngzhīrèn Líng.[10]
  4. ↑ Soulframe Liang uses the term kungfupunk in English,[3] but he interchangeably uses the terms wuxiapunk (武侠朋克) and kungfupunk (功夫朋克) in Chinese.[31]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "［インタビュー］「Phantom Blade Zero」の社長が語る，中国でわざわざコンソールゲームを作るということ―――夢がある人なら，延々とモバイルゲームを開発したいだなんて思わないでしょう" (in ja). 15 October 2024. Archived from the original on 8 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250108234626/https://www.4gamer.net/games/709/G070971/20241010065/. 
  2. ↑ Fenlon, Wes (12 August 2025). "In 15 years of interviewing AAA game developers, I think this is the first time one's straight up told me 'Many people make games for money, but we make money for games'". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/in-15-years-of-interviewing-aaa-game-developers-i-think-this-is-the-first-time-ones-straight-up-told-me-many-people-make-games-for-money-but-we-make-money-for-games/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Liang, Soulframe (24 May 2023). "Phantom Blade Zero: a new beginning in a long journey". Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250212165410/https://blog.playstation.com/2023/05/24/phantom-blade-zero-a-new-beginning-in-a-long-journey/. 
  4. ↑ Romano, Sal (2 February 2024). "Phantom Blade Zero ‘Year of the Dragon Special Trailer: Rain and Blood’". https://www.gematsu.com/2024/02/phantom-blade-zero-year-of-the-dragon-special-trailer-rain-and-blood. 
  5. ↑ Gerblick, Jordan (26 July 2024). ""Everyone is looking at Black Myth Wukong": Phantom Blade Zero director expects the most-wishlisted game on Steam to be a breakthrough moment for China". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action-rpg/everyone-is-looking-at-black-myth-wukong-phantom-blade-zero-director-expects-the-most-wishlisted-game-on-steam-to-be-a-breakthrough-moment-for-china/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "ChinaJoy2024：《影之刃零》新实机发布" (in zh). 29 July 2024. https://www.3dmgame.com/news/202407/3900603.html. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 "在《影之刃零》里寻找传统民乐器的灵魂" (in zh). 12 December 2025. https://www.chuapp.com/article/291054.html. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "TGA上宣布定档，梁其伟终于把《影之刃零》端上来了" (in zh). 27 December 2025. https://36kr.com/p/3592724488356097.  Translated and adapted in "From Rainblood to Phantom Blade Zero: The origins and rise of S-Game". 25 December 2025. https://kr-asia.com/from-rainblood-to-phantom-blade-zero-the-origins-and-rise-of-s-game. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Vitale, Adam (28 September 2023). "Free-to-play sidescroller action RPG Phantom Blade: Executioners launches on November 2 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, mobile, and PC" (in en). https://www.rpgsite.net/news/14919-free-to-play-sidescroller-action-rpg-phantom-blade-executioners-launches-on-november-2-for-playstation-5-playstation-4-mobile-and-pc. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Phantom Blade Zero". https://www.gematsu.com/games/phantom-blade-zero. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "《影之刃零》夏日游戏节登场，线下巡回试玩开启" (in zh). 10 June 2024. Archived from the original on 30 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250130175128/https://www.chuapp.com/article/290019.html. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Hashimoto, Kazuma (21 January 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero is a "kung fu punk" action RPG that wants to follow in the footsteps of Black Myth Wukong: "there's a lot of pressure on us, but I think in a good way"". Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250212135657/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action-rpg/phantom-blade-zero-is-a-kung-fu-punk-action-rpg-that-wants-to-follow-in-the-footsteps-of-black-myth-wukong-theres-a-lot-of-pressure-on-us-but-i-think-in-a-good-way/. 
  13. ↑ "帅到不像实机的中式武侠战斗，真让他们做出来了！影之刃零线下抢先试玩分享【UCG】" (in zh). 14 June 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250814232521/https://www.ucg.cn/newsinfo/7281262.html. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Madsen, Hayes (26 March 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero Already Feels Like the Next Black Myth Wukong". https://www.inverse.com/gaming/phantom-blade-zero-preview. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 Galizio, James (19 December 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero Interview: A discussion with Soulframe Liang on creating the Wuxia Action genre". https://www.rpgsite.net/interview/19238-phantom-blade-zero-interview-a-discussion-with-soulframe-liang-on-creating-wuxia-action-genre. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Exclusive Developer Interview ft. Phantom Blade Zero". 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231104094840/https://www.ign.com/articles/exclusive-developer-interview-ft-phantom-blade-zero. 
  17. ↑ "Going Hands-on With Phantom Blade Zero | IGN LIVE 2024". 8 June 2024. https://www.ign.com/videos/going-hands-on-with-phantom-blade-zero-ign-live-2024.  Video on YouTube
  18. ↑ Bergin, Lauren (22 January 2025). "2025's slickest soulslike shows off new weapons, and the coolest boss fight I've ever seen". https://www.pcgamesn.com/phantom-blade-zero/year-of-the-snake-trailer. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Koreis, Justin (6 October 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero Is A Delightfully Punishing Action-RPG". https://www.ign.com/articles/phantom-blade-zero-is-a-delightfully-punishing-action-rpg. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Fenlon, Wes (8 August 2025). "After flying around the world to play my most anticipated action RPG, I'm convinced Black Myth Wukong was just an opening salvo for big budget Chinese games". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/phantom-blade-zero-preview-chinese-action-games-soulslikes-kung-fu/. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Bailey, Dustin (27 May 2023). "The incredible-looking Phantom Blade 0 is a semi-open-world "rebirth" of a $7 indie JRPG". https://www.gamesradar.com/the-incredible-looking-phantom-blade-0-is-a-semi-open-world-rebirth-of-a-dollar7-indie-jrpg/. 
  22. ↑ "半開放世界功夫龐克冒險遊戲《影之刃 零》亮相 化身僅剩 66 日餘命的刺客追緝真兇" (in zh). 25 May 2023. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230725145421/https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=250279. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Kennedy, Victoria (25 May 2023). "Slick looking action-RPG Phantom Blade Zero blends Chinese martial arts with "punk spirit"". Archived from the original on 8 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250108151211/https://www.eurogamer.net/slick-looking-action-rpg-phantom-blade-zero-blends-chinese-martial-arts-with-punk-spirit. 
  24. ↑ Gerblick, Jordan (24 July 2024). ""It's just like the Souls games before Elden Ring": Phantom Blade Zero director walks us through this action RPG's seamless, non-linear map". Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240806125801/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action-rpg/dev-behind-action-rpg-phantom-blade-zero-says-its-seamless-non-linear-map-is-just-like-the-souls-games-before-elden-ring/. 
  25. ↑ Cotts, Josh; Taormina, Anthony (18 December 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero Has More Endings Than Elden Ring". https://gamerant.com/phantom-blade-zero-how-many-endings-elden-ring-comparison/. 
  26. ↑ Velde, Issy van der (21 April 2025). "People said it wasn't hard enough, so one Phantom Blade Zero dev cooked up a hardcore difficulty mode that changes enemy AI so much it feels more like PvP". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action-rpg/people-said-it-wasnt-hard-enough-so-one-phantom-blade-zero-dev-cooked-up-a-hardcore-difficulty-mode-that-changes-enemy-ai-so-much-it-feels-more-like-pvp/. 
  27. ↑ Hussain, Tamoor; James, Lucy; Li, Richard; Seipke, Jean-Luc; Blumenthal, Max (25 March 2025). "Phantom Blade Devs Explain Why It Isn't a Souls-Like OR Hack n Slash". https://www.gamespot.com/videos/phantom-blade-devs-explain-why-it-isnt-a-souls-like-or-hack-n-slash/2300-6465820/.  Video on YouTube.
  28. ↑ Palumbo, Alessio (28 July 2023). "Phantom Blade Zero Q&A - Dev Says Bosses are the Game's Highlights, Confirms Hardware Ray Tracing & PS5 Specs". Archived from the original on 27 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250127082252/https://wccftech.com/phantom-blade-zero-qa-dev-says-bosses-are-the-games-highlights-confirms-hardware-ray-tracing-ps5-specs/. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Cichacki, Shaun (24 February 2025). "Soulframe, CEO of S-Game and the Creator of ‘Phantom Blade Zero,’ Details How It Differs From Any Other Action Game on the Market (Exclusive Interview)". https://www.vice.com/en/article/soulframe-ceo-of-s-game-and-the-creator-of-phantom-blade-zero-details-how-it-differs-from-any-other-action-game-on-the-market-exclusive-interview/. 
  30. ↑ Lewis, Catherine (24 June 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero is "neither a Soulslike game nor a traditional action game," creator says, suggesting that "maybe it could create a new identity" altogether". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action-rpg/phantom-blade-zero-is-neither-a-soulslike-game-nor-a-traditional-action-game-creator-says-suggesting-that-maybe-it-could-create-a-new-identity-altogether/. 
  31. ↑ "游民采访《影之刃零》制作人：不担心被人与《黑神话》比较" (in zh). 16 July 2024. p. 1. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250214141420/https://www.gamersky.com/news/202407/1787986.shtml. 
  32. ↑ "［インタビュー］「Phantom Blade Zero」の社長が語る，中国でわざわざコンソールゲームを作るということ―――夢がある人なら，延々とモバイルゲームを開発したいだなんて思わないでしょう" (in ja). 15 October 2024. Archived from the original on 8 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250108234626/https://www.4gamer.net/games/709/G070971/20241010065/.  Translated and adapted in Vjestica, Amber (16 October 2024). "Phantom Blade Zero devs say cultural differences are not a barrier in games but a plus, which is why they don't tone down themes for the West". Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241117133344/https://automaton-media.com/en/news/phantom-blade-zero-devs-say-cultural-differences-are-not-a-barrier-in-games-but-a-plus-which-is-why-they-dont-tone-down-themes-for-the-west/.  Cited in Randall, Harvey (16 October 2024). "Phantom Blade Zero devs say they don't want to water down the game for foreigners—in fact, quite the opposite". Archived from the original on 5 February 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250205162544/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/phantom-blade-zero-devs-say-they-dont-want-to-water-down-the-game-for-foreigners-in-fact-quite-the-opposite/. 
  33. ↑ "《影之刃零》梁其伟采访：谈古龙武侠对游戏影响" (in zh). 30 July 2025. https://www.gamersky.com/news/202507/1969686.shtml. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 "《影之刃零》主角脸模揭晓 修改《雨血》争议剧情" (in zh). 6 August 2025. https://www.gamersky.com/news/202508/1974235.shtml. 
  35. ↑ Madsen, Hayes (11 August 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero’s Story Has “Horror Vibes” Like Resident Evil or Alan Wake". https://www.inverse.com/gaming/phantom-blade-zero-soulframe-liang-director-interview. 
  36. ↑ Kennedy, Victoria (25 May 2023). "Slick looking action-RPG Phantom Blade Zero blends Chinese martial arts with "punk spirit"". Archived from the original on 8 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250108151211/https://www.eurogamer.net/slick-looking-action-rpg-phantom-blade-zero-blends-chinese-martial-arts-with-punk-spirit.  Romano, Sal (12 December 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero launches September 9, 2026". https://www.gematsu.com/2025/12/phantom-blade-zero-launches-september-9-2026. 
  37. ↑ Good, Owen S. (25 May 2023). "Phantom Blade Zero was the surprise mystery hit of Sony’s PlayStation Showcase". https://www.polygon.com/23737538/phantom-blade-zero-release-date-developer-s-game. 
  38. ↑ Denzer, TJ (10 October 2024). "Phantom Blade Zero's Sekiro-like duels were a delightful surprise at TGS 2024". https://www.shacknews.com/article/141753/phantom-blade-zero-tgs-2024-preview. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 "梁其伟的选择II - 触乐" (in zh). 30 September 2021. https://www.chuapp.com/article/288274.html. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "在索尼全球发布会上，《影之刃零》选择回归原点" (in zh). 25 May 2023. Archived from the original on 29 November 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241129215535/https://www.chuapp.com/article/289317.html. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 梁萧 (26 July 2017). "ChinaJoy 2017：《影之刃Zero》角色设定图公布 黑魂设计师操刀" (in zh). Archived from the original on 5 February 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250205115348/https://www.gamersky.com/news/201707/934309.shtml. 
  42. ↑ "《影之刃Zero》概念图公开 充满黑暗诡异元素" (in zh). 15 September 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250205091901/https://www.gamersky.com/news/201709/956614.shtml. 
  43. ↑ "国产单机《雨血》系列新作《影之刃Zero》人设图 左殇、黑伤·魂英气逼人" (in zh). 1 October 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250131082014/https://www.gamersky.com/news/201710/962991.shtml. 
  44. ↑ "国产单机《雨血》系列新作《影之刃zero》建模图 细节精湛、画面进步巨大" (in zh). 30 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250130175438/https://www.gamersky.com/news/201711/984864.shtml. 
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "灵游坊接下来两年中的产品及发展规划 - 触乐" (in zh). 12 May 2017. https://www.chuapp.com/article/283066.html. 
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 "梁其伟，再次选择" (in zh). 20 June 2023. https://www.chuapp.com/article/289359.html. 
  47. ↑ "《影之刃零》玩家试玩活动回顾" (in zh). 20 June 2025. https://www.ucg.cn/newsinfo/8457957.html. 
  48. ↑ Madsen, Hayes (26 March 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero Already Feels Like the Next Black Myth Wukong". https://www.inverse.com/gaming/phantom-blade-zero-preview.  The Inverse article refers to the PlayStation Showcase as the PlayStation State of Play.
  49. ↑ "我们跟《影之刃零》制作人聊了聊，但是没见到兰博基尼" (in zh). 9 June 2023. p. 2. Archived from the original on 25 February 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250225121906/https://www.gamersky.com/news/202306/1605949_2.shtml.  In the GamerSky interview, Liang refers to Feng Ji by the pseudonym Yocar.
  50. ↑ Nightingale, Ed (13 May 2025). "How Black Myth: Wukong has changed the game for Chinese developers". https://www.eurogamer.net/how-black-myth-wukong-has-changed-the-game-for-chinese-developers. 
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 "《影之刃零》蛇年PV："比好更好"是可以做到的吗？" (in zh). 25 January 2025. https://www.chuapp.com/article/290451.html. 
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 52.3 52.4 52.5 52.6 "专访国产单机游戏《影之刃零》制作人梁其伟：让全球玩家“玩”武打！" (in zh). 21 February 2025. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250221190809/https://www.jfdaily.com/staticsg/res/html/web/newsDetail.html?id=863423. 
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 Madsen, Hayes (14 August 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero’s Years-Long Mocap Process Is All About Honoring Kung Fu Tradition". https://www.inverse.com/gaming/phantom-blade-zero-bts-mocap-wuxia-china-report. 
  54. ↑ Fenlon, Wes (27 March 2025). "Chinese action game Phantom Blade Zero didn't click for me until I realized its deep commitment to wuxia film authenticity meant I had to relearn how swords work". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/chinese-action-game-phantom-blade-zero-didnt-click-for-me-until-i-realized-its-deep-commitment-to-wuxia-film-authenticity-meant-i-had-to-relearn-how-swords-work/. 
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 "《影之刃零》线下试玩口碑极佳，制作人却只希望大家「谨慎看好」" (in zh). 29 July 2025. https://gouhuo.qq.com/content/detail/0_20250729193009_WE7FQfrxb. 
  56. ↑ "《影之刃零》美女角色脸模公开!婴儿模特是梁其伟儿子" (in zh). 12 December 2025. https://www.gamersky.com/news/202512/2058545.shtml. 
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Fenlon, Wes (12 December 2025). "The most promising action game of 2026 finally has a release date, and we now know it'll launch on PC day one". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/the-most-promising-action-game-of-2026-finally-has-a-release-date-and-we-now-know-itll-launch-on-pc-day-one/. 
  58. ↑ Winslow, Levi; Bonthuys, Darryn (11 December 2025). "Chinese Martial-Arts RPG Phantom Blade Zero Gets September 2026 Release Date". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/chinese-martial-arts-rpg-phantom-blade-zero-gets-september-2026-release-date/1100-6536785/. 
  59. ↑ LeBlanc, Wesley (11 December 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero, The Kung Fu Punk Action Game, Gets September Release Date". https://gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2025/2025/12/11/phantom-blade-zero-the-kung-fu-punk-action-game-gets-september. 
  60. ↑ "国产单机《雨血》系列确认重制 剧情延展至"荒城"之后" (in zh). 22 November 2016. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250214132633/https://www.gamersky.com/news/201611/837776.shtml. 
  61. ↑ "《影之刃零》蛇年新春实机PV公开，双蛇大破七星阵！" (in zh). 22 January 2025. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250122085258/https://www.ali213.net/news/html/2025-1/902003.html. 
  62. ↑ "中国武术的绝巅！《影之刃零》新春演示"满屏喊帅"，震惊玩家和同行" (in zh). 23 January 2025. Archived from the original on 30 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250130175712/http://www.gamelook.com.cn/2025/01/563180. 
  63. ↑ Nightingale, Ed (12 December 2025). "Eagerly-awaited Chinese action game Phantom Blade Zero finally gets a release date (and yes, it's still a PS5 console exclusive)". https://www.eurogamer.net/eagerly-awaited-chinese-action-game-phantom-blade-zero-finally-gets-a-release-date-and-yes-its-still-a-ps5-console-exclusive. 
  64. ↑ "为何定档9月9日？国产《影之刃零》制作人回应！". 31 December 2025. https://www.gamersky.com/news/202512/2069253.shtml. 
  65. ↑ Sarfaraz, Shahmeer (29 December 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero Crosses One Million Wishlists In Just Two Weeks". https://tech4gamers.com/phantom-blade-zero-crosses-one-million-wishlists/. 
  66. ↑ Blake, Vikki (30 December 2025). "Phantom Blade Zero clocks up over 1 million wishlists in just 2 weeks". https://www.eurogamer.net/phantom-blade-zero-clocks-up-over-1-million-wishlists-in-just-2-weeks. 
  67. ↑ For the nominations, see "UCG游戏大赏2024全奖项提名公开！" (in zh). 27 December 2024. Archived from the original on 4 April 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250404235352/https://www.ucg.cn/newsinfo/7900806.html.  For the results, see "UGA2024圆满结束！全奖项获奖游戏和厂商公开！" (in zh). 15 January 2025. Archived from the original on 5 April 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250405172533/https://www.ucg.cn/newsinfo/7965353.html. 
  68. ↑ For the results, see "「UCG 游戏大赏 2024」颁奖典礼圆满结束" (in zh). 16 January 2025. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250121094404/https://gouhuo.qq.com/content/detail/0_20250116184721_pWIjG7Ok3. 
  69. ↑ For the nominations, see "1月20日，线下颁奖典礼见！" (in zh). 13 January 2026. https://www.ucg.cn/newsinfo/10939307.html.  For the results, see "UGA2025颁奖典礼现已结束!" (in zh). 20 January 2026. https://www.ucg.cn/newsinfo/10956581.html. 
  70. ↑ For the results, see Zhang, Zacky (20 January 2026). "UGA 2025 游戏大赏圆满落幕" (in zh). https://www.ign.com.cn/hollow-knight-silksong/58231/news/uga-2025-you-xi-da-shang-yuan-man-luo-mu. 



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