Black Myth: Jiang Ziya Faces a Long Wait Amid Development Changes

Game Science has shared some intriguing details about Black Myth: Jiang Qi, the studio's next major project following the success of Black Myth: Wukong. The game was revealed much earlier than its eventual release window, and the developer has already made it clear that you should not expect to play it anytime soon. 

New comments from Game Science co-founder and Black Myth series art director Yang Qi offer a little more insight into how development is progressing and what the team is taking inspiration from. They also hint at the creative direction the studio hopes to take as it continues expanding the series.

One of the more interesting points involves the use of artificial intelligence during development. 

Yang Qi explained that the game's design and asset production phases are currently staying away from AI-generated content. This is not necessarily because the team is against the technology, but rather because it wants to continue relying on older methods and technology during these stages of development. 

Yang Qi also used Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey as an example when explaining his position on technology and production. According to the translated comments, he was impressed by Nolan's approach and felt inspired by the way the director was working with older technology instead of simply relying on the newest digital tools available. 

The translation is not completely clear in places, but the general point is that Yang sees value in established techniques even as newer technologies continue to develop. For Black Myth: Jiang Qi, that means the team is currently choosing not to rely on AI-generated assets during its design and asset-production work.

Black Myth: Jiang Qi is Game Science's second Black Myth title after Wukong, which became an enormous success for the studio. However, the new game is still in the early stages of development, so you should not expect a release anytime soon. 

The earliest possible window would likely be around 2028, although 2029 appears more realistic based on the current stage of development. With that in mind, it may be quite some time before Game Science is ready to show you substantially more of the project.

The early reveal is somewhat unusual, especially because the studio has already made it clear that the game is still a long way from release. Still, the success of Wukong means there will likely be considerable interest once Jiang Qi gets closer to launch. 

Meanwhile, Phantom Blade Zero is moving toward another important stage of its marketing campaign. 

An 11-minute pre-order trailer is planned, with pre-orders scheduled to open on August 11. There has also been speculation about whether the game will receive its previously announced State of Play presentation, but the developers have told Push Square that they are still finalizing details around the game's future marketing beats, including that previously announced State of Play.

That has led to speculation that the presentation could potentially be canceled, although the developers have not confirmed that. The discussion comes at a time when PlayStation is facing criticism from part of its core audience over the situation surrounding physical games. 

Phantom Blade Zero is aimed heavily at that core audience, meaning its association with a PlayStation-branded event could potentially create an awkward situation depending on how the marketing is handled.

For that reason, the developer could benefit from handling more of the promotion itself rather than presenting everything as a major PlayStation event. A large 11-minute trailer could still be published through PlayStation's channels without necessarily being marketed as a PlayStation-focused presentation. 

The question of a physical version is also becoming important because Phantom Blade Zero is expected to be a $70 game. Players who are spending that much on a new release may naturally want the option to purchase a physical copy, especially when other games with lower prices are still receiving physical releases. 

Phantom Blade Zero is scheduled to launch on October 29, so more information about its marketing and release plans should become clearer as that date approaches. The game already has considerable attention behind it, and the upcoming trailer should give you a much better look at what the developers are preparing. 

Another action game preparing for release is Onimusha: Way of the Sword, which has received its latest trailer, titled Severing Fates. 

The trailer is one of the final promotional videos ahead of launch and arrives as Capcom prepares to bring the long-running Onimusha series back. The game is scheduled to release on September 4, meaning there is not much time left before you can finally play it.

Way of the Sword was originally scheduled to launch on September 25 before being moved forward by roughly three weeks to September 4. The earlier release puts it into a busy period for action games, with several other titles competing for the same audience. That includes games such as Control Resident, Silent Hill: Townfall, and the early access launch of Ace Combat, while Blood of the Dawn Walker will also be arriving around the same period.

This creates a difficult situation for games targeting a more focused audience. While these titles may not have the massive reach of something like GTA 6, they are still competing for the same limited amount of money from players who regularly buy action, horror, and other core games. 

The main concern is that the game does not appear to have generated as much buzz as some other major releases, although that could change quickly once players get their hands on the finished version.

There is a possibility that Way of the Sword could follow the same general pattern as other games that initially received limited attention before gaining momentum after release. Onimusha is a long-running franchise with a history that goes back to the PlayStation 2 era, but it does not have the same level of mainstream recognition as some of Capcom's other properties. 

Way of the Sword can still become a successful release. 

If the finished game delivers a quality experience, players can discover it after launch and continue picking it up over time, especially when it eventually goes on sale. Capcom also enters the release with considerable goodwill after a strong run of games, which gives Onimusha a solid opportunity to build momentum even if the initial marketing does not generate enormous attention.

The timing also makes Way of the Sword an important part of what could become a very strong year for Capcom. If the game delivers on its potential, it would join Resident Evil Requiem, Monster Hunter Stories 3, Pragmata, and other major releases as part of an unusually busy stretch for the publisher. 

For now, the three games are at completely unique points in their development and marketing cycles. Black Myth: Jiang Qi is still years away, with Game Science continuing its early development and avoiding AI-generated content during its design and asset phases. 

Phantom Blade Zero is much closer to launch, with its pre-order trailer and marketing plans taking shape ahead of its October 29 release. Onimusha: Way of the Sword, meanwhile, is almost here and is preparing for its September 4 launch with the Severing Fates trailer and a free demo already available.

The biggest takeaway is that you should not expect Black Myth: Jiang Qi to appear anytime soon, even though Game Science has already given the project an early introduction. 

Phantom Blade Zero should be providing much more information as its October launch approaches, particularly with pre-orders now opening and a major trailer planned. Way of the Sword has the shortest wait of the three, but it faces a crowded release schedule.

For action game fans, that makes the next few months particularly busy. You have a long-term project from the studio behind Wukong, a highly anticipated new action game approaching launch, and the return of a classic Capcom franchise all moving forward at different speeds.

While Black Myth: Jiang Qi is still a distant prospect, Phantom Blade Zero and Onimusha: Way of the Sword are much closer to showing whether their long waits and marketing efforts will pay off. Both games will soon have to prove that they can stand out in an increasingly crowded action game market.