# Phantom Blade Zero review

Gaming · Heat 10.0 / 10 · 3 shows · 49m airtime

Phantom Blade Zero, the PS5-exclusive wuxia action game from Beijing studio S-Game, launched on October 30, 2026, with Game Informer's Wesley LeBlanc reviewing it at 9.5/10 and IGN's Travis Northup at 9/10. Within its first few hours it hit 680,000 concurrent Steam players, the year's second-highest new-game count. The discussion covers its 55 weapons, 25 Phantom Edges, non-respawning enemies and mid-boss-phase checkpoints, and much of the argument is about the game's refusal to be a Souls-like. Reporting has also established that Roger Craig Smith replaced the original voice actor for protagonist Sol shortly before review embargo, a recasting that remains unexplained.

Page: https://boilpoints.com/point/phantom_blade_zero_review_4107442342

## Segments

- [Kinda Funny Games Daily](https://boilpoints.com/u/kindafunnygamesdaily), 2026-10-29, 1:00:11 to 1:03:50: **Puts a number on Phantom Blade Zero's launch**. Runs through the Wee News items and puts a number on Phantom Blade Zero's launch: 680,000 concurrent Steam players in its first few hours, the second-highest new-game count of the year. The rest is a rapid list of small announcements. New angle: Phantom Blade Zero hit 680,000 concurrent Steam players within its first few hours, the year's second-highest new-game count.
- [Game Scoop!](https://boilpoints.com/u/gamescoop), 2026-10-30, 2:13 to 8:11: **Adds a second outlet's 9 to the record**. Walks through the game's structure - bell save points, no enemy respawns, no currency loss on death, boss-phase checkpoints - and puts a second outlet's score on the record: IGN's Travis Northup gave it a 9. Stays inside the review conversation. New angle: IGN's Travis Northup also reviewed Phantom Blade Zero, scoring it a 9 out of 10.
- [The Game Informer Show](https://boilpoints.com/u/thegameinformershow), 2026-10-30, 6:11 to 45:20: **Breaks down the 9.5 review and late voice swap**. LeBlanc walks through his 9.5/10 review of S-Game's wuxia action debut: 55 weapons, 25 Phantom Edges, enemies that stay dead, checkpoints between boss phases, and a last-minute voice swap for protagonist Sol. The hosts frame it as the endpoint of the traditional action formula rather than a Souls-like. New angle: Roger Craig Smith replaced the original voice actor for protagonist Sol shortly before review embargo.