Chinese developer S-GAME has confirmed that development on Phantom Blade Zero is essentially complete, with pre-orders set to begin on August 11 at 7 PM Pacific Time, or August 12 at 10 AM Beijing Time.

Pre-orders will be available through the PlayStation Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store. S-GAME is also preparing a new trailer that will showcase previously unseen story content, characters, combat, and what the developer describes as "something unexpected."

Phantom Blade Zero represents S-GAME's first console release after years of developing games primarily for PC and mobile platforms. The studio's history with the franchise stretches back to 2010, when it released Rainblood: Town of Death, an RPG Maker project that established the universe later known as Phantom Blade.

The original game was followed by Rainblood 2: City of Flame in 2011 and the prequel Rainblood Chronicles: Mirage in 2013. S-GAME subsequently shifted its attention toward mobile games, beginning with Phantom Blade 1 in 2014 and eventually releasing several more titles, including Phantom Blade: Executioners in 2023.

By that point, however, S-GAME was preparing to return to PC and expand onto consoles with a much larger production. Phantom Blade Zero has reportedly been in planning since 2017, with full-scale development beginning in 2022.

The game serves as a major 3D reimagining of the original Rainblood titles while retaining their core premise. Players take on the role of Soul, a warrior who is framed for murdering his clan's leader. After being rescued by a healer, Soul discovers that he has only 66 days to uncover the truth before a deadly condition causes his heart to stop.

Phantom Blade Zero first attracted widespread attention during the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase, where its dark action-RPG gameplay and Unreal Engine 5 visuals immediately caught the attention of fans. S-GAME founder and CEO Soulframe Liang later revealed that games including Ninja Gaiden, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Nioh were major inspirations for the project.

The developer has also repeatedly emphasized its boss encounters, describing the game's elaborate bosses as one of its major highlights. Hands-on previews have since given players a closer look at the combat, which combines fast-paced action with deeper RPG mechanics.

Those RPG systems extend beyond combat, with S-GAME previously confirming that side quests can influence the main story. That should give players additional reasons to explore the game's world rather than simply following its primary objectives.

After previously being scheduled for September 9, Phantom Blade Zero was delayed by 50 days and is now set to launch on October 29 for PC and PlayStation 5. With development now complete and pre-orders just days away, S-GAME's upcoming trailer should provide the clearest look yet at what players can expect from one of the year's most anticipated action RPGs.