After years of anticipation and multiple delays, Chinese developer S-GAME finally revealed the official release date for Phantom Blade Zero during The Game Awards 2025. The announcement came with an explosive new gameplay trailer showcasing the game’s signature “Kungfupunk” style a blend of traditional Chinese martial arts with steampunk aesthetics. Let us take a look at Phantom Blade Zero release date along with other details.
What is Phantom Blade Zero?
Phantom Blade Zero is a third-person action RPG that combines elements from Soulslike games with hack-and-slash combat. Players control an elite assassin who was framed for murdering the patriarch of his organization, The Order. Gravely injured during the manhunt, Soul receives a temporary cure from a mystic healer that gives him only 66 days to live. He must uncover the mastermind behind the conspiracy before his time runs out.
The game is a spiritual rebirth of S-GAME founder Soulframe Liang’s 2010 indie RPG Rainblood: Town of Death . After more than a decade of development, the studio has created what they describe as a new genre that balances accessibility for mainstream players with authentic Chinese wuxia fighting styles. The game features linear progression mixed with semi-open exploration areas , a dual-weapon switching system, and dynamic boss fights that use counter-AI to adapt to player strategies.
Phantom Blade Zero release date
Phantom Blade Zero will l aunch on September 9, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and PC. The game will be available on both Steam and Epic Games Store, giving PC players multiple options for purchasing the game.
This marks the end of a long wait for fans who have been following the game since its initial reveal in 2023 . S-GAME has been gradually sharing more gameplay footage and details throughout development, but the lack of a concrete release date had left many wondering when they’d finally get to play.
Can it match Black Myth: Wukong?
Industry observers are watching closely to see if Phantom Blade Zero can replicate the global success of Black Myth: Wukong, another Chinese action game that became a worldwide phenomenon in 2024. S-GAME’s approach emphasizes universal storytelling through kung fu as a medium. With September 9, 2026, now locked in, fans have less than a year to wait before experiencing S-GAME’s vision of Kungfupunk action.
The Game Awards 2025 saved its biggest surprise for last. Instead of closing with a massive franchise sequel or anticipated remake, host Geoff Keighley unveiled Highguard, a brand-new fantasy hero shooter from debut studio Wildlight Entertainment. The twist? It launches in just over a month on January 26, 2026.
Who’s Making Highguard?
Wildlight Entertainment was founded in 2021 by former Respawn Entertainment developers . The studio includes 61 team members who previously worked on Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Studio co-founder and CEO Dusty Welch emphasized the team’s focus on “creating a new gaming universe of epic scale and quality,” while game director Chad Grenier highlighted a studio culture built around creative freedom and design-led decision making. After four years of quiet development, Highguard represents the team’s first project since leaving Respawn.
What is Highguard?
Highguard is a “ PvP raid shooter ” where players take on the role of Wardens – arcane gunslingers fighting for control of a mythical continent. The gameplay loop revolves around battling rival Warden crews for possession of a powerful sword called the Shieldbreaker, then using it to summon a giant battering ram to raid and destroy the enemy’s base.
The debut trailer showcased a wild blend of mechanics that mix elements from Overwatch, Paladins, and Marvel Rivals. Players leave their homebase on horseback, engage in mounted combat, and use hero abilities ranging from ground slams and electric spears to ice walls and lava summoning.
HighguardReleaseDate
Highguard launches January 26, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S a s a free-to-play title with cross-play and cross-progression across all platforms. The short wait between announcement and release is unusual for Game Awards reveals, which typically showcase games years away from launch.
Time will tell if Highguard can turn around public perception and carve out its own space in the crowded market. With the January 26 release date approaching fast, we won’t have to wait long to find out.
