The creators of Phantom Blade Zero have no intention of adapting the game for Western audiences

The project's producer, Liang Qiwei, considers cultural differences a major advantage rather than a barrier.

The producer of the action RPG Phantom Blade Zero, Liang Qiwei, spoke with the publication 4Gamer at TGS 2024 and shared his thoughts on the cultural differences between Western and Eastern players, as well as their impact on development.

Qiwei considers cultural differences a major advantage rather than a barrier, citing Black Myth: Wukong as an example. In his view, Game Science took a major risk with a game based on the novel “Journey to the West”, which is not as well known in the West. In the end, the risk paid off, and Wukong sold millions of copies worldwide.

“In my opinion, quality and the gameplay experience are at the core of any game. If you can achieve high quality and deliver an engaging gameplay experience, I think a complex cultural theme can only become an asset. In such a game, any unfamiliar themes will strike players as something fresh and interesting”.

The developers of Phantom Blade Zero do not intend to tailor their project to a Western audience, considering the combat techniques incorporated into it largely unfamiliar to most players.

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Image author: S-Game. Image source: Phantom Blade Zero