From the workshops of a young Chinese studio comes Phantom Blade Zero, a game that began as one thing and is becoming another — not a meditation on patience and punishment in the Soulsborne tradition, but a kinetic celebration of rhythm, reflex, and style. Riding the cultural momentum opened by Black Myth: Wukong's 2024 breakthrough, S-Game now appears to have both the resources and the vision to deliver something genuinely distinct. The question is no longer whether the game is interesting, but when the world will be allowed to play it.
Kotaku
· Jan 22, 2025
· technology
· 2 min read
High
Sourcing: Verified
Phantom Blade Zero Emerges as Next Breakout Action Game from Chinese Studio
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Culture & Arts
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Bias & Framing
⚖
Article uses promotional language and comparative framing to position Phantom Blade Zero as a successor to Black Myth: Wukong, with minimal critical analysis of the game itself.
Bias Direction
center-right
Confidence
MED
Promotional/hype-building framing that emphasizes market positioning and commercial potential rather than critical evaluation. Uses comparative success narrative (Black Myth: Wukong) to establish credibility and appeal.
Breakout action game
next breakout
blockbuster breakout
exactly why
vibe that Phantom Blade 0 could be the next
Critical gameplay analysis or potential weaknesses
Player community reception or concerns
Competitive landscape beyond Black Myth: Wukong comparison
Developer challenges or production concerns
Accessibility or difficulty concerns mentioned in other coverage
Geopolitical Impact
🌎
Chinese studio S-Game's Phantom Blade Zero represents growing dominance of Chinese game developers in global AAA market, following Black Myth: Wukong's success and signaling shift in entertainment soft power.
Escalation Risk
low
Confidence
HIGH
China
United States
Japan
Global gaming market
Chinese gaming studios gaining significant market share and cultural influence in global entertainment. S-Game's success challenges traditional dominance of Japanese (FromSoftware, Capcom) and Western developers. Represents broader trend of Chinese tech/creative industries expanding international reach and establishing IP franchises that compete with established Western/Japanese properties.
Similar to Japan's rise in gaming industry during 1980s-90s (Nintendo, Sega), where domestic studios leveraged technological advantages and creative talent to capture global market share and establish cultural soft power.
Economic Lens
📈
Chinese studio S-Game's PS5 exclusive Phantom Blade Zero demonstrates strong commercial potential in the action game market, following Black Myth: Wukong's success and signaling continued growth of Chinese game developers in global markets.
Market Signal
bullish
Confidence
MED
Video game development and publishing
Consumer electronics (gaming hardware)
Entertainment and media
International technology trade
Consumers gain access to high-quality action games from emerging Chinese developers at competitive price points, increasing gaming options and potentially driving PS5 hardware adoption. This may intensify competition and improve overall game quality across the action genre.
Success of Chinese game studios in Western markets may prompt discussions around intellectual property protections, content regulation standards, and potential trade policy considerations. Regulatory bodies may examine data privacy and content moderation practices of Chinese developers operating in Western markets.