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The Game Awards stage is no stranger to world premieres, but this year’s ceremony is shaping up to be a landmark moment for Chinese-developed AAA games. Amid swirling rumors about high-profile reveals, one major confirmation has emerged directly from the event’s organizers: S-Game’s highly anticipated action RPG, Phantom Blade Zero, will have its release date announced on December 11th.
The official Game Awards X account (formerly Twitter) set expectations with a definitive post, confirming the developer’s presence and the impending date reveal. You can see the announcement for yourself below.
[!VIDEO] https://x.com/thegameawards/status/1997456018897297841
A Stylish, Punishing World Awaits
Accompanying the news was a short, enigmatic video focusing less on combat and more on artistry and dread. It depicts an artist putting the final touches on a massive dragon’s head, only for the creature to suddenly rise and reveal a man hidden beneath—a haunting visual that sets the game’s dark, wuxia-inspired tone.
While the teaser sidestepped the game’s flashy combat, hands-on previews from earlier this year paint a picture of a uniquely challenging experience. Publications like IGN have described "delightfully punishing" combat that is fast, fluid, and cinematic, blending swordplay with mechanical arm attachments.
S-Game has been careful to distance Phantom Blade Zero from the "souls-like" label, stating a design goal to be more accessible than the grueling boss battles of titles like Elden Ring. However, testers confirm it remains intensely challenging. The game introduces a gripping high-stakes mechanic: each death costs the protagonist, an assassin named Soul, precious time, with only 66 in-game days until he succumbs to a fatal poison.
#PhantomBladeZero promised to reveal its release date in 2025.
— The Game Awards (@thegameawards) December 7, 2025
Next Thursday, the lion awakens.
The world premiere announcement arrives live at #TheGameAwards.#TGA2025 #Kungfupunk #Gaming pic.twitter.com/OVNeVnNO1I
The New Wave of Chinese AAA Development
Phantom Blade Zero is riding the crest of a significant wave. The unprecedented global hype for Black Myth: Wukong has galvanized Chinese developers and demonstrated a massive worldwide appetite for high-production-value games rooted in Chinese folklore and mythology. PlayStation has actively nurtured this trend, encouraging studios in the region to develop for PS5.
The path hasn’t been without hurdles, as evidenced by the long development of titles like Lost Soul Aside. S-Game appears laser-focused on technical polish, emphasizing a stable, high frame rate to ensure its blisteringly fast combat never feels sluggish or unfair.
Platform Strategy and the Xbox "Diss" Debunked
The confirmed platforms for the upcoming release date are PS5 and PC. The game’s platform future sparked headlines earlier this year when a developer comment was interpreted as downplaying the importance of an Xbox version. However, S-Game swiftly clarified that the game is not a PlayStation exclusive and has not ruled out other platforms in the future. As reported by PlayStation Lifestyle, the studio debunked the "diss" and maintains a more open platform stance.
Read more about the platform clarification: Phantom Blade Zero PS5 Exclusivity, Xbox "Diss" Debunked
What Else to Expect at The Game Awards
Host Geoff Keighley has already stoked fan curiosity by teasing a "nefarious" statue in his annual "world premiere" trailer, hinting at a major, unannounced headliner. Other industry whispers suggest the Star Wars galaxy may also have a significant presence, with rumors of a revival of the beloved Knights of the Old Republic franchise.
All will be revealed when The Game Awards 2025 livestream begins on December 11th. For action RPG fans and watchers of the global games industry alike, the confirmation of Phantom Blade Zero’s release date is a premier reason to tune in.