Release date
Phantom Blade Zero launches on September 9, 2026, worldwide. The date was announced at The Game Awards on December 12, 2025 via an official trailer.
Platforms
PlayStation 5: console exclusive for at least 12 months after release
PC: simultaneous launch on Steam and Epic Games Store
The release date trailer included the note: "Also available on PC. Not available on other consoles until at least 12 months after release date." Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2 versions could arrive no earlier than September 2027. PS5 Pro support has been confirmed with upgraded textures, models, and lighting.
Difficulty options
The game offers four difficulty modes:
Wayfarer: the easiest option, designed for players with little to no action game experience
Gamechanger: the default difficulty, balancing challenge with accessibility
A third unnamed difficulty (referenced in some sources as "Hard")
Hellwalker: the hardest mode, unlocked in New Game+ only
Hellwalker is fundamentally different from other difficulties. Boss AI borrows from fighting game concepts: bosses analyze the player's situation and adapt in real time using a "lucky draw" system. Director Liang explained: "If he lands a hit he'll continue a combo, but if it doesn't hit, he's gonna do something else. He tries to use the result of his last attack to determine what to do next." Rather than following preset attack patterns, Hellwalker bosses react dynamically to the player's behavior.
Boss checkpoint system
Players do not have to restart boss fights entirely if defeated. When a player reaches a boss's second phase and dies, they restart from that phase rather than the beginning. The game's ending reportedly changes based on how many times the player dies, adding a narrative consequence to difficulty.
Content scale
The main story takes an estimated 20-30 hours. S-GAME has stated that an average first playthrough reveals only about 30% of the game's content. With side content, the total playtime reaches 40-60 hours. Endgame content includes multiplayer dungeons, a boss rush mode, and rogue-like abysses.
DRM
The PC version uses Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM, confirmed on both the Steam and Epic Games Store pages.
Pre-release timeline
Date | Event |
|---|---|
May 24, 2023 | world reveal at PlayStation Showcase 2023 |
June 2024 | playable demo at Summer Game Fest |
August 2024 | Gamescom trailer and 8-minute gameplay video |
September 2024 | playable demo at Tokyo Game Show |
January 2025 | Year of the Snake trailer; PS5 Pro support confirmed |
July 2025 | S-Party 2025 with 22-minute demo walkthrough (Beijing) |
August 2025 | 90-minute playable demo at Gamescom on PS5 Pro |
December 12, 2025 | release date announcement at The Game Awards |