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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Phantom Blade Zero is the next major action RPG to come out of China after the record-breaking launch of Game Science’s Black Myth Wukong. The upcoming “kung fu-punk” soulslike title comes from S-Game, and it’s their first large-scale effort aimed at global audiences. The developer’s CEO Liang Qiwei (Soulframe), who doubles as Phantom Blade Zero’s producer, recently gave insights into how the studio is handling themes players from the West are less familiar with.

Speaking to 4Gamer at TGS2024, Qiwei talks about his team’s endeavors to explore the philosophy behind real Hong Kong-style kung-fu offensive and defensive tactics in Phantom Blade Zero’s gameplay. This includes going beyond what past kung-fu-themed video games have accomplished and incorporating techniques that are much less familiar to gamers.

As the title is being developed with global audiences in mind, the team decided to go for the theme of “kung-fu punk” to bridge any cultural gaps between the game and Phantom Blood Zero’s players. Qiwei explains this term as “using authentic kung fu and martial arts as the core and clothing it in popular culture.”

But when asked about why S-Game went for cultural themes that could be potentially hard for global audiences to fully understand in the first place, Qiwei suggests that presenting something obscure is part of the appeal.

“If we look at recent titles, Black Myth: Wukong had a much higher hurdle to overcome than our game does in terms of culture as its completely based on a classic Chinese work of literature. So [Game Science] may encounter this problem of players not understanding the cultural background. But in my opinion, the quality and playing experience of a game are its core. If you can achieve high quality and an entertaining playing experience, I think that a difficult theme can actually be an advantage, not a disadvantage. If your game is entertaining, players will perceive unfamiliar themes as something fresh,” S-Game’s head explains.

Qiwei considers that Black Myth: Wukong’s success has already “verified” his opinion that unfamiliar themes can only heighten player immersion and interest. He goes on to further explain, “The reason we Chinese players know about Western and Japanese culture is because we had very entertaining Western and Japanese games as an entry point. We gradually became accustomed to them. I doubt Chinese players knew much about Japanese samurai at first, and I don’t think they were especially interested in them. But because there were so many good games about them, they’re now basically recognized as a pop theme. So, to repeat, if the game itself is interesting, the sense of its themes being foreign can be an advantage, rather than a barrier. I think it’s a very strong plus that draws in more players.”

Phantom Blade Zero devs say cultural differences are not a barrier in games but a plus, which is why they don’t tone down themes for the West - AUTOMATON WEST

Phantom Blade Zero producer and S-Game CEO Liang Qiwei talks about bridging cultural gaps between Chinese and Western audiences.

automaton-media.com

 

[YeulEmeralda]

I saw a lot of complaints about Lost Judgment story because the themes didn't gel with Burgers.

 

[winjer]

It's good to see some devs understand that western audiences are not just those purple haired dumb asses, with the IQ of a tree stump.

 

[TintoConCasera]

the quality and playing experience of a game are its core. If you can achieve high quality and an entertaining playing experience, I think that a difficult theme can actually be an advantage, not a disadvantage. If your game is entertaining, players will perceive unfamiliar themes as something fresh

Yeah coming from playing Wukong I can really agree with this. At times I didn't know what the hell was going on, but the game being so fun to play sure helped in keeping me interested in it and it's story.

 

[BlackTron]

It's good to see some devs understand that western audiences are not just those purple haired dumb asses, with the IQ of a tree stump.

Yeah I agree, this perception of the west creates embarrassment for me.

 

[killatopak]

Finally, someone acknowledges countries outside of burger town exists.

 

[GrayChild]

Good on them. It has always been ironic how the western libtards are celebrating other cultures only when they're tamed and downright neutered under their 'sensitivity' guidelines.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

How dare you.

This will be Kotaku's and Eurogamer's next target.

 

[Calico345]

I've been waiting for this game so patiently and with high hopes because it looks cool but GIMME NOW!

 

[Bartski]

The game is amazing and if level design is up to snuff its gonna be a sure GOTY nominee

 

[Nankatsu]

I saw a lot of complaints about Lost Judgment story because the themes didn't gel with Burgers.

Lost Judgment narrative is top tier. Those who didn't get it well...

 

[Kotaro]

And this is why Asian games will take over the industry once the Western games fade to irrelevancy

 

[tommib]

The game is amazing and if level design is up to snuff its gonna be a sure GOTY nominee

It’s coming this year?

 

[Barakov]

I saw a lot of complaints about Lost Judgment story because the themes didn't gel with Burgers.

As a burger I can say that's not surprising. Any time you add some slight complexity to a story, normie gamers lose their minds. They truly can't handle it.

 

[Giallo Corsa]

It’s coming this year?

Ma crystall ball says 2026 brother

 

[Bartski]

It’s coming this year?

likely 2026… they made this perfect vertical slice (the press demo) and now they have to make the rest of the game from what I’ve heard, wouldn’t hold my breath for 2025

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Sweet Baby Inc just found their next extortion target

 

[EDMIX]

Any other developer saying this, we'd be 70 pages deep of folks crying over developers having freedom to create lol

"like omg WOW why are they SHOVING THIS DOWN OUR THOATS"

Don't tone shit down for anyone, gamers cry over the fucking dumbest shit expecting developers to bend over backwards to alter their art, to fit their feelings or something. To those who support this statement, lets try supporting it universally, not when it popular to heard the sheep to seem "kool" cause i can imagine if this was Ubisoft, Bioware, Remedy etc, that made this statement, it would be twisted like "OMG the said they won't tone down themes FOR GAMERS AND WON'T LISTEN TO ANY FEED BACK" WTF Broz

HOW DARE THEY! lol

It seems folks only want to cherry-pick and agree with this when its fashionable and convenient to support this idea, i've always supported the idea for any artist to not change shit for anyone, regardless of who is making the statement.

 

[Unknown?]

Any other developer saying this, we'd be 70 pages deep of folks crying over developers having freedom to create lol

"like omg WOW why are they SHOVING THIS DOWN OUR THOATS"

Don't tone shit down for anyone, gamers cry over the fucking dumbest shit expecting developers to bend over backwards to alter their art, to fit their feelings or something. To those who support this statement, lets try supporting it universally, not when it popular to heard the sheep to seem "kool" cause i can imagine if this was Ubisoft, Bioware, Remedy etc, that made this statement, it would be twisted like "OMG the said they won't tone down themes FOR GAMERS AND WON'T LISTEN TO ANY FEED BACK" WTF Broz

HOW DARE THEY! lol

It seems folks only want to cherry-pick and agree with this when its fashionable and convenient to support this idea, i've always supported the idea for any artist to not change shit for anyone, regardless of who is making the statement.

The problem with this theory is no one is telling these Chinese companies to change and they sell so feedback in that regard is not something they are getting.

Companies are free to not listen to feedback at their own peril though and the trash Western companies have been pushing has done just that.

 

[Roman Empire]

Sweet Baby Inc just found their next extortion target

We joke about it but I can already see publications like IGN, Kotaku and whatnot jumping on the devs for not pandering to the western weirdos.

No wonder why the majority of successful releases this year came from Japan, Korea, and China. Gamers are voting with their wallet and now the looney crowd is crying we're playing foul by not buying their games.

 

[daclynk]

 

[EDMIX]

The problem with this theory is no one is telling these Chinese companies to change and they sell so feedback in that regard is not something they are getting.

Companies are free to not listen to feedback at their own peril though and the trash Western companies have been pushing has done just that.

True and I agree, companies are free not to listen to feedback.

Regardless if someone thinks a company is fucking trash or not. That freedom is not limited to a select few. I believe in that regardless of who is making the statement...

 

[Lokaum D+]

 

[Buggy Loop]

 

[EDMIX]

likely 2026… they made this perfect vertical slice (the press demo) and now they have to make the rest of the game from what I’ve heard, wouldn’t hold my breath for 2025

Same, I was hoping for some update, for a near release, but I also feel this sounds like a 2026 type thing.

 

[Fabieter]

If i play an asian game than i want it to be as asian as possible. I don't care for those who don't care about asian stuff, play other stuff instead.

 

[EDMIX]

If i play an asian game than i want it to be as asian as possible. I don't care for those who don't care about asian stuff, play other stuff instead.

Agreed, don't like it, don't buy it!

So many other games to play, if someone wants a game that isn't like this completely, the market has tons of options I hope they don't change shit. I get feedback if its a functional thing not working, but if its a story thing, artistic thing, if someone doesn't like it, I don't feel anything should be changed.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Based Eastern devs. Not afraid to make beautiful women look like actual beautiful women.