Pre-orders for S-Game's upcoming action RPG, Phantom Blade Zero, have officially launched on both the PlayStation Store and Steam, but the lack of any physical purchase options has already prompted concern among fans. The game, slated for a dedicated PlayStation State of Play showcase on August 17, is currently only available for digital pre-order.
This omission has drawn comparisons to other recent PlayStation 5 exclusive titles. For instance, the PlayStation Blog post announcing pre-orders for Silent Hill 2, another game exclusive to the PS5 for its first 12 months, specifically mentioned a physical release. In contrast, the corresponding blog post for Phantom Blade Zero makes no such mention.
Further fueling speculation, the extended reveal trailer for Phantom Blade Zero, featured on the official PlayStation YouTube channel, now displays the PS5 Digital Edition console instead of the standard model with a disc drive. This subtle change, noted by users on social media, marks a departure from previous promotional materials from Sony.
Fans discussing the issue on the r/PhantomBladeZero subreddit have voiced worries that the game might be a digital-only release on the PlayStation 5. While the console exclusivity is set for 12 months, some hope that an Xbox Series X/S version might eventually see a physical disc release, particularly if the digital-only nature is tied to Sony's evolving hardware strategies.
S-Game has not yet announced any plans for a physical edition of Phantom Blade Zero, and a request for comment from Kotaku regarding physical release plans did not receive a response prior to publication.