Lost Soul Aside: A Long-Awaited Devil May Cry-Inspired Action RPG Ready to Launch

Lost Soul Aside, one of the most ambitious indie action RPGs in development over the last decade, is finally gearing up for launch. With an official release date set for August 29, 2025, the game will be available for PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store).

A passion project that grew into a full-fledged production backed by Sony's China Hero Project, Lost Soul Aside combines high-speed, combo-heavy combat reminiscent of Devil May Cry with the cinematic flair and sci-fi aesthetics of Final Fantasy XV. After years of trailers, showcases, and anticipation, players are finally about to dive into this mesmerizing world.

🛠️ A Solo Project Turned Studio Phenomenon

Lost Soul Aside began back in 2014 as a solo project from Chinese developer Yang Bing. Inspired by the visuals and gameplay of Final Fantasy XV, Bing created a demo that went viral online. The explosive combat and slick animation caught the attention of Sony Interactive Entertainment, who welcomed the game into its China Hero Project—a program designed to incubate high-potential Chinese games for PlayStation.

This partnership allowed Bing to found Ultizero Games, growing the team from one person to around 40 developers, with additional backing from Tencent. While the development timeline stretched across a decade, the team focused on refining gameplay, building tools, and ensuring the game lived up to its visual promise.

🎙️ “We were building the plane as we were flying it,” Bing once said in an interview. The long development was a combination of learning curves, ambition, and a commitment to doing justice to the game’s core vision.

⚔️ Combat: Stylish, Dynamic, and Deep

At its heart, Lost Soul Aside is a character action game. Players control Kaser, a lone swordsman on a quest to rescue his sister from an interdimensional threat called the Voidrax. His only companion? A mysterious, shapeshifting dragon named Arena who doubles as both a travel tool and a combat weapon.

Here’s what sets the combat apart:

🔁 Seamless Weapon Switching:

Arena transforms into four weapon types:

Poleblade – a swift, mid-range hybrid of a polearm and blade
Scythe – long-range area damage
Greatsword – heavy, slow, and devastating
One-Handed Sword – balanced, fast, and stylish

Players can switch weapons mid-combo, chaining attacks with near-limitless creativity.

🌀 Combat Mechanics:

Aerial Dodging & Parrying: Mastery of air control is crucial for survival and combat flair.
Combo Burst: A timing-based system that powers up your attacks if you hit inputs with precision during a combo.
Skill Trees: Each weapon comes with four unlockable and customizable active skills, giving players deep control over their builds.
Summon Arena: Arena isn’t just for attacks. He can be summoned into the field for assistive combos, area attacks, or used to traverse environments by gliding or riding a crystal hoverboard.

Lost Soul Aside’s combat draws heavy comparisons to Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and Final Fantasy VII Remake, but it maintains its own identity through Arena’s unique role and Kaser’s lightning-fast movement.

🌍 World Design and Storytelling

While some expected an open world, Lost Soul Aside opts for a semi-linear design. As confirmed by GamingBolt, the game uses structured levels with explorable side areas and branching paths, allowing for depth without overwhelming scale.

Kaser’s story revolves around:

Rescuing his sister from the invading Voidrax
Unraveling the truth behind Arena and their shared fate
Battling the Empire, a powerful human force that seeks to control Voidrax technology

Lost Soul Aside features cinematic storytelling, with in-engine cutscenes, environmental storytelling, and voice-over support. While full details on the narrative are still under wraps, previews suggest themes of isolation, inner conflict, and duty.

🎨 Visuals and Audio Excellence

Lost Soul Aside continues to dazzle with its visual fidelity, especially considering its indie origins. The game uses a custom Unreal Engine 4 build, enhanced with newer rendering techniques. Key highlights include:

Native 4K support
Ray tracing on PC
Unlocked framerates on capable systems
Motion blur, particle effects, and advanced physics

🎧 Audio & Controller Support:

On PC, players using a DualSense controller via wired connection will enjoy:

Adaptive Triggers
Haptic Feedback
Speaker Output for immersive sounds like weapon hums or Kaser’s voice echoes

Soundtrack previews suggest a hybrid of orchestral, rock, and electronic styles, with combat music dynamically shifting based on performance and momentum.

📅 Release Plans and Platform Details

Originally announced for May 30, 2025, the game was delayed to August 29, 2025, to allow for polish, balancing, and final bug fixes. According to the developers, this delay was made to ensure the game launches with the level of quality fans expect after such a long wait.

🌐 Platform Breakdown:

PlayStation 5
PC (Steam & Epic Games Store)
PS5 Pro Enhancements: Native 4K, enhanced ray tracing, and performance mode for 120 FPS.

There are currently no plans for Xbox or Nintendo Switch, as the game remains a timed PlayStation console exclusive via the China Hero Project.

🎮 Final Thoughts: A Decade in the Making

Few indie games have had a journey like Lost Soul Aside. What started as a solo demo has grown into a flagship release under Sony’s indie initiatives, representing both global ambition and the rise of the Chinese development scene.

With its stylish combat, gorgeous visuals, and emotional narrative, Lost Soul Aside is poised to make a major impact when it drops later this August. It’s a love letter to fans of Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy, and cinematic action games—and it’s one that’s long overdue.

If you've been waiting to get your hands on a new high-speed character action experience, this may be your game of the year.

🔗 Sources: Sony, Ultizero Games, GamingBolt, IGN China, Game Informer, PlayStation Blog