Absolutely all gameplay footage of Phantom Blade Zero shown today was recorded from side content, not from the main story campaign. The reveal came from S-Game devs during a conversation with blogger Luke Stevens at Summer Game Fest 2026.
Weird choice for marketing — most studios flash main-campaign moments — but Stevens (who’s been on the beat for action games a while) warned that the trailers aren’t smoke and mirrors: the demo build ran just as slick in person, though he sounded a little cautious about how representative it is.
Mechanically, the project feels more like a fast slasher than a soulslike. Combat depth is built on player skill rather than character leveling; i.e., perfect parries, lightning-quick weapon switches and on-the-fly combos drive the loop, not XP or gear progression. Think reflexes + timing over stat hubs and grind.
Target platforms and timing remain PC and PS5, with an expected launch in October 2026. Whether the main campaign matches the flash of the side missions is something to watch as we get closer.