Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds – April 2025

The cult classic beat ’em up series Phantom Breaker is making its return with a completely rebuilt entry that aims to modernise the franchise for current generation systems. Rocket Panda Games has announced that Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate will launch on April 17, 2025.

A Ground-up Rebuild

Unlike typical remasters, Battle Grounds Ultimate represents a complete reconstruction of the original game in Unreal Engine 5. This ambitious move suggests players can expect significant visual improvements alongside smoother gameplay mechanics and enhanced special attacks. The shift to a modern engine also brings promised improvements to the online experience, though we’ll need to see how this performs in real-world conditions.

Expanded Multiplayer Options

The multiplayer offering appears notably robust, supporting local co-op for up to four players alongside expanded online modes. The co-op player count extends to six online, while versus modes can accommodate up to eight players. Cross-platform play is also supported, which should help maintain a healthy player base across different systems.

Villains Join the Roster

An intriguing addition is the ability to play as enemy characters from the series’ universe. While the full roster hasn’t been revealed, Rocket Panda Games suggests players will have access to both major antagonists and minor enemies, potentially adding interesting variety to the gameplay mix.

The Phantom Breaker series has had an interesting journey since its 2011 debut as a traditional fighting game. After Rocket Panda Games acquired the IP in 2022, following their work on Phantom Breaker: Omnia, this latest entry represents their first major development project with the franchise.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on how this reimagining shapes up as we approach its April release date.