Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Phantom Blade Zero is set to be one of the most stunning action games launching in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S generation, but developer S-Game's choice of engine will not prevent those playing on low-end hardware from enjoying the game, as game director Qiwei "Soulframe" Liang promised a smooth experience on every format, even on Steam Deck.
Speaking with PC Gamer, Liang highlighted how aware the team is of the rising prices of gaming hardware due to the AI boom, and said that the final polishing phase will ensure players will have a great experience, no matter where they are playing.
"This year the hardware price is going up, and people who want to replace their hardware may postpone their plan to upgrade their equipment, so we think we need to let the game be played by as many players as possible without reducing the quality."
Looking at how even console prices are on the rise, as every current generation system is currently available at significantly higher prices than at launch, the approach the Phantom Blade Zero developer is taking is sure to be followed by plenty of other studios. Stunning graphical fidelity is all well and good, but if gamers cannot run games properly without significantly lowering settings down, it can only damage a game's appeal in this extremely complicated period for gaming as a whole. Additionally, this could also pave the way for a Nintendo Switch 2 port down the line.
Phantom Blade Zero was among the many games set to release in September 2026, but the action game was eventually delayed to October 29 for additional polish. As Qiwei "Soulframe" Liang nonchalantly admits the studio isn't worried about launching so close to Grand Theft Auto VI, as it doesn't think of the competition and worries only about delivering a polished game, their confidence is well-founded. I had the chance to play the game twice over the past two years, and each session made me very confident that it has a real shot at being one of the best action games of the generation.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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