The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes has officially been announced as the franchise's first game built for home consoles. Aiming revealed the project during State of Play Japan on September 3, 2026, with a 2027 launch planned for PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
The game places the Seven Shadows at the center of a 3D roguelite action experience. Its First Trailer shows Alpha in combat, the randomized Magic Awakening upgrade system, and a new original storyline involving Delta, Alpha and Shadow in an unexplained confrontation.
> Light spoiler notice: this article discusses story footage deliberately shown in the First Trailer, including Delta's condition and Alpha's confrontation with Shadow.
Quick Summary
- Official global title: The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes
- Japanese title: 陰の実力者になりたくて！Phantom Echoes
- Type: console / PC game
- Based on: The Eminence in Shadow anime
- Franchise position: first home-console game in the series
- Genre: roguelite action
- Gameplay format: 3D action
- Reveal event: State of Play Japan
- Announcement date: September 3, 2026
- Release window: 2027
- Specific release date: unannounced
- Platform: PlayStation 5
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
- PC platform: Steam
- PC platform: Epic Games Store
- Player count: 1 player
- Japanese rating: CERO C
- Price: unannounced
- Japanese publisher / project lead: Aiming
- Developer: Team Caravan / Aiming
- Western publisher: NIS America
- Selected Asian distribution: Clouded Leopard Entertainment
- Producer: Masahiko Takeuchi
- Director: Toshiki Otsu
- Character focus: Seven Shadows
- Seven Shadows count: seven members
- Core franchise conflict: Shadow Garden against the Cult of Diablos
- Gameplay character featured in the First Trailer: Alpha
- Alpha's fighting style shown: sword-based melee combat
- Core system: Magic Awakening
- Magic Awakening function: selecting abilities and upgrades throughout a run
- Roguelite structure: character abilities are strengthened randomly between runs
- Example upgrade: expanding a skill's attack range
- Another example: restoring HP after defeating enemies
- Build choices: include higher-risk, higher-reward options
- Special moves: each character has a unique finishing attack
- Special-move upgrades: can favor activation frequency or greater damage
- Story: original narrative connected to the main story
- Story supervision: Daisuke Aizawa
- Supervision collaboration: KADOKAWA
- Trailer mystery: Delta is shown injured and restrained
- Trailer confrontation: Alpha faces Shadow
- Shadow's connection to Delta's injuries: unexplained and not confirmed
- PlayStation Store status: Announced
- PS5: offline single-player play
- PS5: Remote Play supported
- PS5: PS5 Pro Enhanced
- PS5: DualSense vibration supported
- PS5 accessibility: 14 features are currently listed
- CLE release audio: Japanese and English
- CLE release subtitles: Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese
- Current status: in development for 2027
First Trailer, PlayStation Store and Gameplay
The Eminence in Shadow's First Home-Console Game
Aiming describes Phantom Echoes as the first home-console project based on The Eminence in Shadow anime. Producer Masahiko Takeuchi says the concept had already begun taking shape roughly three years earlier, during the anime's broadcast.
Although the State of Play reveal and PlayStation Japan post naturally focus on PS5, Aiming's full announcement confirms versions for Nintendo Switch 2, Steam and Epic Games Store as well. Phantom Echoes is therefore not a PlayStation-exclusive game.
The team also says it wants fans to enjoy the project alongside the franchise's wider developments in 2027, including the anime film also planned for that year.
Seven Shadows Take Center Stage
Rather than building the entire game solely around Shadow, Phantom Echoes specifically highlights the Seven Shadows, Shadow Garden's seven highest-ranking members fighting the Cult of Diablos.
The First Trailer uses Alpha to introduce its initial combat systems. She is shown moving rapidly through 3D arenas with sword attacks, fighting multiple enemies and combining her basic action kit with upgrades acquired during the run.
Aiming confirms that all seven members of the Seven Shadows will appear. The full playable roster, starting characters and any character-switching mechanics have not yet been detailed.
Magic Awakening Shapes Every Run
The most clearly demonstrated roguelite mechanic is Magic Awakening, an ability-selection system positioned as one of the game's central gameplay pillars.
Each run can produce a different combination of enhancements. Developer examples include increasing a skill's attack radius and restoring HP after defeating an enemy, while other choices carry greater risk in exchange for stronger benefits.
The idea is to let players create builds around their own preferred controls and playstyles instead of reaching the same character configuration in every run.
Special Moves Can Be Built Around Your Playstyle
Each character also has a distinctive special move designed as a powerful answer when surrounded by groups of enemies.
Roguelite upgrades extend to these finishers as well. The development team gives examples such as improving how frequently a special move can be activated or accepting a longer activation time in exchange for greater single-hit damage.
This means build choices affect more than basic stats, allowing players to alter how and when a character's strongest attack becomes part of their strategy.
Delta, Alpha and Shadow Set Up a New Story Mystery
The end of the First Trailer shifts sharply away from gameplay demonstration. Delta appears injured and restrained, while another sequence shows Alpha confronting Shadow.
PlayStation Blog deliberately frames Delta's situation as a mystery involving the possibility of Shadow's involvement, but does not provide an answer. The trailer therefore does not confirm that Shadow is actually responsible for injuring her.
What is confirmed is that Phantom Echoes features a fully original story connected to the main narrative, supervised with series creator Daisuke Aizawa and KADOKAWA. Its exact place in the timeline, primary antagonist and reason for Alpha's confrontation with Shadow remain undisclosed.
Launching Across Four Platforms in 2027
Aiming plans to release the game in 2027 for PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam and Epic Games Store. A specific date and price have not yet been announced.
For the Western market, the PlayStation Store lists NIS America as publisher. Clouded Leopard Entertainment is handling the announced Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asian distribution, where its current listing includes Japanese and English audio plus nine subtitle languages.
The PS5 version can already be wishlisted. Its store page also confirms offline single-player play, Remote Play, PS5 Pro Enhanced support, DualSense vibration and multiple accessibility options, although preorders are not yet open.
Why This Matters
1) It takes the franchise into a full console-action format
The Eminence in Shadow has received previous game adaptations, but Phantom Echoes is the first project built specifically around a home-console action experience.
2) The Seven Shadows become the gameplay centerpiece
The concept places Shadow Garden's seven elite members at the heart of its combat instead of treating them only as supporting characters around Shadow.
3) Roguelite systems add replayability beyond anime recreation
Magic Awakening and randomized upgrade combinations mean runs can develop differently rather than simply reproducing scenes from the anime.
4) The new story immediately targets Shadow Garden's core relationships
Delta's condition and Alpha's confrontation with Shadow make the first mystery personal to the organization itself without revealing the answer yet.
Game Information
For now, the additional important information currently known includes:
- The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes is targeting a 2027 release
- no specific launch date has been announced
- the game's price remains unannounced
- confirmed platforms are PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam and Epic Games Store
- the game is designed as a single-player experience
- its announced Japanese rating is CERO C
- Aiming officially describes the genre as roguelite action
- PlayStation Store categorizes the game as Action
- Aiming announced and leads the project in Japan
- Team Caravan is involved as the development team
- Masahiko Takeuchi serves as producer
- Toshiki Otsu serves as director
- NIS America is publishing the game in the West
- Clouded Leopard Entertainment is handling its announced Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asian distribution
- the Seven Shadows are the principal character focus
- all seven members are confirmed to appear
- Alpha is the character most prominently shown in the First Trailer's gameplay
- Alpha's combat uses sword-based melee action
- character abilities can receive randomized enhancements during a run
- Magic Awakening is the main ability-selection system currently demonstrated
- upgrades can alter attack range, HP sustain, damage and other ability properties
- some enhancements follow a risk-versus-reward structure
- character-specific special moves can clear groups of enemies
- special moves can also be modified through the build system
- the original story is supervised by Daisuke Aizawa together with KADOKAWA
- the narrative is confirmed to connect with the franchise's main story
- the First Trailer depicts Delta in an injured state
- it also depicts Alpha and Shadow confronting each other
- the cause of Delta's injuries and the reason for that confrontation remain unexplained
- the exact Phantom Echoes timeline placement has not been announced
- the complete playable roster has not been announced
- stage structure, run length, bosses, difficulty and permanent progression systems have not yet been detailed
- no demo has been announced
- preorders have not opened
- the PS5 version supports offline play
- the PS5 version supports Remote Play
- the PS5 version is listed as PS5 Pro Enhanced
- DualSense vibration is supported
- PlayStation Store currently lists 14 accessibility features, including remapping, subtitle options, control reminders and game pausing
- for CLE's distribution, Japanese and English audio are listed
- CLE lists English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles
- official information is available through the The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes Official Website
- the State of Play announcement is available through the PlayStation Japan Official X Post
- franchise updates are available through The Eminence in Shadow Official X
- the First Trailer is available through the Official YouTube Trailer
- the PS5 version is listed on PlayStation Store
- developer gameplay commentary is available through PlayStation Blog Japan
Closing
The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes expands the franchise into a larger console-action format built around the Seven Shadows, roguelite builds, Magic Awakening and a new story supervised by the original creator. Its First Trailer already establishes Alpha's gameplay while introducing a major mystery around Delta and Shadow.
The game is scheduled for 2027 on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam and Epic Games Store. Its exact release date, price, complete playable roster, progression structure and the story explanation behind the trailer's final scenes remain unannounced.
- PlayStation Japan Official X — Official State of Play Japan PS5 and 2027 Announcement
- YouTube — Official The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes First Trailer
- PlayStation Store — Official PS5 Product Page, Wishlist, Player Count, PS5 Features, and Accessibility
- The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes — Official Game Website
- PlayStation Blog Japan — Gameplay Systems, Seven Shadows, Original Story, Producer, and Director Commentary
- 4Gamer — Aiming Release Details, Platforms, CERO, Player Count, Price Status, and First Trailer
- Clouded Leopard Entertainment — Asia Release Platforms, Audio, Subtitles, and Sales Regions
- Gematsu — Publisher, Developer, Western and Asian Publishing Information
