The martial arts star has been secretly shaping Phantom Blade Zero's kung fu for years, and his role goes much deeper than a cameo.
Phantom Blade Zero just dropped an extended new trailer packed with fights, bosses and plenty more of its protagonist Soul in action, but S-Game saved its biggest reveal for the end: Donnie Yen is in the game.
The Hong Kong martial arts star will play Mó Yuan, Soul's father and the masked man seen protecting a baby all the way back in Phantom Blade Zero's first trailer. The new footage arrived alongside another big update for the game, with pre-orders now open on PlayStation 5 and PC.
The extended trailer starts with Soul cutting his way through a wave of enemies before meeting an ally in a village ravaged by war, then moves into more of the fast-paced combat Phantom Blade Zero has built its identity around.
There are also new glimpses of several boss fights players will encounter before Soul eventually crosses paths with the masked man from Phantom Blade Zero's trailer from June 2026's PlayStation State of Play. This time, the man who was previously seen protecting a baby is finally unmasked to be Mó Yuan, Soul's father, played by Donnie Yen.
Phantom Blade Zero
Release date: 29 October, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
Developer: S-GAME
Who is Mó Yuan in Phantom Blade Zero?
Mó Yuan is the father of Phantom Blade Zero protagonist Soul, and has been hiding in plain sight since the game was first revealed. The character appeared as the masked man protecting a baby in Phantom Blade Zero's original trailer, although his identity and connection to Soul were not revealed at the time. The new extended trailer brings the two characters together and finally reveals Mó Yuan beneath the mask, with Donnie Yen taking on the role.
How is Donnie Yen involved in Phantom Blade Zero?
Donnie Yen isn't simply lending his face to Mó Yuan. Alongside playing the character and providing facial and motion capture, the martial arts star has also been involved behind the scenes in shaping Phantom Blade Zero's kung fu.
According to the trailer's YouTube description, Donnie Yen has served as a creative consultant on the game's kung fu choreography since 2023, meaning S-Game managed to keep his involvement secret from the year Phantom Blade Zero was first announced. "Huge thanks to Donnie and his stunt team for bringing authentic kung fu to the game," S-Game said in the trailer's description.
Donnie Yen is best known for playing Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man across the Ip Man films, but his martial arts career stretches back decades. His Hong Kong action credits include Iron Monkey, Hero and Once Upon a Time in China II, while international audiences may also recognise him as Chirrut Îmwe in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Caine in John Wick: Chapter 4. His work also extends behind the camera as an action director and choreographer, making his involvement in Phantom Blade Zero's combat more than celebrity casting.
There was actually an early link between Donnie Yen and Phantom Blade Zero through the game's action director, Kenji Tanigaki. In a 2023 PlayStation Blog post, S-Game founder Soulframe Liang revealed that Tanigaki was handling the game's action choreography. Tanigaki has worked with Donnie Yen and his stunt team for around three decades across numerous films. With S-Game now revealing that Donnie Yen himself has also been working on Phantom Blade Zero since 2023, the pair have effectively brought that long-running collaboration into the game.
Phantom Blade Zero pre-order price, editions, and bonuses
Pre-orders for Phantom Blade Zero are now open on PlayStation 5, Steam and the Epic Games Store, with both the Standard and Digital Deluxe editions available. The Standard Edition is priced at US$59.99, while the Digital Deluxe Edition costs US$69.99.
Pre-ordering either edition gives players early access to the Treasure Basin accessory, which increases Remnant Dust drop rates by 10%, as well as the Legacy outfit. Neither is exclusive to pre-orders, however, as both can also be obtained by progressing through the game.
The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game alongside two exclusive outfits, the White Python and Black Python sets, as well as a digital artbook and digital soundtrack. It also includes the Treasure Basin and Legacy outfit available with the Standard Edition.
Phantom Blade Zero is currently available to pre-order on PlayStation 5 and PC, with the PC version sold through Steam and the Epic Games Store. Xbox Series X|S is not among the announced platforms.
