Developer S-Game has announced a delay for Phantom Blade Zero that will see its PC and PlayStation 5 release date pushed back almost two months.
CEO and game creator Soulframe took to the studio's X/Twitter account to share the news and their "sincere apologies" following its appearance at today's State of Play June 2026 presentation. It's a lengthy note to players with a full explanation for the 50-day delay, which will see the PS5 console exclusive action-RPG move its launch from September 9, 2026, to October 29, 2026.
"First of all, I want to offer my sincere apologies to all the players who have been following and supporting us," Soulframe said. "This was not an easy decision. More than anyone, we understand the expectations our players have placed on us. And precisely because of those expectations, we do not want to release Phantom Blade Zero knowing there is still an opportunity to take it one step further."
Soulframe said they saw "one final opportunity" to make "another meaningful leap forward" while polishing Phantom Blade Zero during the last few months. This final push past the finish line involved upgrading character models, reworking environments, and "preserving as much of this visual impact as possible even without relying on ray tracing." Soulframe acknowledged that ray tracing could improve visuals, but said the studio's first goal is to "make sure the core look, atmosphere, and intensity of Phantom Blade Zero come through at full force for as many players as possible."
The message continued, explaining that, while the delay to late October "cannot solve everything," it will give the team "enough time to complete a number of clearly defined and genuinely important improvements." It's a schedule change that will look to have Phantom Blade Zero delivered as a strong experience immediately upon launch. S-Game aims to give fans "the best version of Phantom Blade Zero we can deliver from the very beginning."
"I am truly sorry for the delay, and I want to thank everyone who has continued to follow and support Phantom Blade Zero," Soulframe continued. "This summer, we will have much more to show you. I believe every extra day of waiting will be worth it."
S-Game's presence at the State of Play showcase saw it confirm that Phantom Blade Zero pre-orders will arrive alongside a full trailer this summer. Its follow-up message clarified that the aforementioned trailer will feature "entirely new in-game footage." A late-summer gameplay and story deep dive State of Play, which was also announced during Sony's presentation, will be 15 to 20 minutes long and is said to highlight "the game’s world, combat, exploration, and character progression systems."
Phantom Blade Zero will launch for PC and PS5 October 29. It will remain a PlayStation console exclusive for at least 12 months after its release date. For what else Sony had to announce at its State of Play June 2026 show, you can see everything announced here.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
