In July of 2012, Sega announced plans to bring the popular multiplayer RPG Phantasy Star Online 2 to the west in "early 2013." But that still hasn't happened, much to fans' consternation—and Sega won't explain a thing.
The PS4 launch looks to have a wider variety of play options than previous generations. Now it looks like Japan will be getting an extra option.
Earlier today, Sega launched a new Phantasy Star Online 2 update for the PC version. New areas! New bosses! New quests! Sounds great, huh? It also brought new headaches.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--E8IoLVTw--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18r7gp1tmyyiwjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--zVDZPJQ5--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18r7gp1tmyyiwjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--u9cDCvoG--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18r7gp1tmyyiwjpg.jpg, (large)])
Yesterday, we got an e-mail from a Kotaku reader named Jacob. He said he was bummed out. See, he really wants to play Phantasy Star Online 2, the free-to-play online RPG that was released in Japan last year, but he can't, because it's not out in the West, and publisher Sega hasn't told anyone what's going on.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--grPMUm-h--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18gstt8h0yljvjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ogGXBZnz--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18gstt8h0yljvjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--WjnIbMvd--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18gstt8h0yljvjpg.jpg, (large)])
Back before the release of Phantasy Star Online 2 on the PC, one of its main selling points was that it would eventually be released on the PlayStation Vita as well. Now, nearly a year after the game's PC launch, this has finally come to pass. And while the Vita version of the game remains largely identical, it is the…
Phantasy Star Online 2 hits the PS Vita on February 28, Sony announced today.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--xDx8cHyX--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18dwb3lift1tsjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--t3ccTPQX--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18dwb3lift1tsjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--aNvkk3Yk--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18dwb3lift1tsjpg.jpg, (large)])
2013 is only 1/12th over. With 11 months left and new console news on the horizon, Weekly Famitsu asked its readers what games they were looking forward to for this year. Here's a list of the top 30 anticipated upcoming games for 2013 (note: All publishers and release dates are for Japanese release versions):
…], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--tcGjGaeD--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/187i7oabc9blrjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Bkfo0oVc--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/187i7oabc9blrjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Z6WUCR7n--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/187i7oabc9blrjpg.jpg, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--JdVjJ90E--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/187hk0sj3lxjmjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mt9c0xvD--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/187hk0sj3lxjmjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--HvZcUpbp--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/187hk0sj3lxjmjpg.jpg, (large)])
Ack! With this new horrifying glitch, Phantasy Star Online 2 has discovered a new level of hell. Character skins can accidentally change... for the worse. The much, much worse. *shudder*
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--VGF7lzRE--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/1830uzrhzj2icjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8iUhzPnA--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/1830uzrhzj2icjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--kloqTerL--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/1830uzrhzj2icjpg.jpg, (large)])
An internet cafe in Tokyo's Takadanobaba is rolling out a Phantasy Star Online 2 "Arks Briefing Room", which available for hourly rent. According to 4Gamer, the space is decked out with four, pricey Emperor 1510 gaming chairs, ALIENWARE Aurora ALX computers, and slick displays. Stunning.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--01gwFt8l--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17valu7j6jc2pjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--cpUs09pt--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17valu7j6jc2pjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--H2srmB5d--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17valu7j6jc2pjpg.jpg, (large)])
Players outside of Japan have been enjoying online role-playing game Phantasy Star Online 2. Those days are over. Until its Western release, the game is now Japan only.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_HqjPFJb--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17uhblgb3ye35jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--inYGYo6M--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17uhblgb3ye35jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--qZMSszcn--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17uhblgb3ye35jpg.jpg, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--40XG3GNh--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17u3ku6gcmdzxjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--2wA7Z5XH--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17u3ku6gcmdzxjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ln9tuqkb--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17u3ku6gcmdzxjpg.jpg, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ZKgiMBWj--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17twen9prptmqjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7GrI5FvP--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17twen9prptmqjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--LV6azyJ9--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17twen9prptmqjpg.jpg, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--N1VYfaNB--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/17twftd1pqj55png.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--tzz8aGBz--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/17twftd1pqj55png.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--yObBw78o--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/17twftd1pqj55png.png, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ElPdm9b4--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17tru4omygm8yjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_7FeSZDn--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17tru4omygm8yjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--PK-CqURK--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17tru4omygm8yjpg.jpg, (large)])
Phantasy Star Online was a trail blazer of a game, bringing the MMORPG experience to home consoles for the first time. Starting on the Dreamcast, it later had releases on the Xbox, GameCube and PC. Less than a month ago, its sequel Phantasy Star Online 2 was released as a free-to-play MMORPG on PCs. It will be released …
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Mj0eDCS2--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17skrj9r089hajpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--CL3FCQoS--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17skrj9r089hajpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--w7GJH4no--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17skrj9r089hajpg.jpg, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--PMDUSh0u--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17saacuw0yanljpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Ht8joD7z--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17saacuw0yanljpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--fFXMZZCn--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17saacuw0yanljpg.jpg, (large)])
The latest chapter in the epic online space fantasy action role-playing series is marching its Humans, Newmen and robotic CAST slowing across the ocean, as Sega announces a Western release for Phantasy Star Online 2 in 2013.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Kd0mWkms--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17rvip1jrefljjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--z7UcXQRD--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17rvip1jrefljjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5zFh1QgN--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17rvip1jrefljjpg.jpg, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--71SWVm22--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/1906qqvmzdqbrjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Ll32lWW---/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/1906qqvmzdqbrjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5aBmLC3f--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/1906qqvmzdqbrjpg.jpg, (large)])
The beta forPhantasy Star Online 2 has ended, and the official service will finally start on July 4. Although the game is free-to-play with no required fees, there are in-game premiums that players can choose to buy. The in-game premiums can be purchased by Arcs Cash, which can be charged through PSO's official…
