Nintendo Switch Is Getting A New Phantasy Star Online Game

...Was so excited until I read microtransactions. Might just download it anyways for free.

Better than nothing. Hopefully it comes to the states. One of the few games i remember spending over 100 hours on in one summer.

Meh, worked for Team Kirby Clash Deluxe. As long as the game can be completed without paying too much (TKCD's "pay a certain amount and you can complete the game on your own" was a good start, but the concept was mismanaged with the blatant last upgrade being far bigger than the others, it's just ridiculous), many people won't even mind the microtransactions. Good news all around.

Then it's not really free. And I'm not sure this will make it outside of Japan.

I love phantasy star and still remember playing this series on dial up with my dream cast.

If there's something like one big payment to unlock the full game, I'll be more than happy.

Almost 100% sure it'll be nothing like that.

Fingers crossed in vain for localization.

Always up for trying Sega franchises I've never played. Though it would be better in English.

I'd given up hope for PSO2 localization what feels like a decade ago. If they actually do it this time, I'm game to give it a go, maybe even throw a few bucks their way before even starting.

Hope to see it in the west.

@MegaTen Couldn't you still play it since the Switch is region-free, though admittedly the language barrier could be an issue.

OMFG!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. Switch is best console ever, I use to play this on GameCube. I love to death Phantasy Star and this is day freaking one.

Edit: I don't care about microtransactions. I love Phantasy Star and I take it.

Whoa Phantasy Star, waaaah Japan only probably.

Scream in joy! read f2p cry in despair.

Switch is region free, you can download the game from the Japanese eShop and take it from there I suppose.

Sega has absolutely refused to officially open up PSO2 to people outside of Japan even on PC even though fan translators do a lot of the translating for them already, so this being officially localized is a looooooooog shot.

People have been begging for PSO2 to be localized for years. I'd be shocked if it happened now.

At least Switch is region free.

@MegaTen @link3710 Microtransactions done right can actually be very functional. There's a game named Warframe that understands precisely how they should be handled, but I do see why it has such a bad reputation. By the way Megaten, I also waited for it since it's announcement for the Vita many years ago... in fact, that game alone would have made me choose the Vita over the 3DS, but it never happened.

"Then it's not really free. And I'm not sure this will make it outside of Japan."

@SLIGEACH_EIRE it's free to play, wich isn't the same as free. As long as it doesn't force you to pay and that you are able to finish the game without spending money (even if your progress is slower than gamers that pay) it would stay true to this.

I'll go as far to say I'm willing to pay a monthly fee for this game for online multiplayer. Bring it to US Nintendo.

@Ernest_The_Crab Normally yes, but since it probably requires an internet connection to play it, Sega probably is going to Geo-lock it (for online play).

No way we'll see this in the west, people have wanted the PC game to go english for years, without sega caring.

Welp. Time to get a Switch.

EDIT: "It's not known if it will make it out of Japan."

Oh. That saves me thousands of hours, then.

For those of you freaking out about microstransactions, they are for cosmetics which can be bought off of the player shops anyway. PSO2 is perfectly playable without paying a cent. It is also relatively easy to play even without a translation.

Source: Been playing it on PC since the beta. Tons of fun.

@LArachelDisciple You should try it on Dreamcast. I never played it on DC, but it also came to the GameCube in the form of Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 and that was pretty awesome.

Oh heck ya!!

blah!... why wont they just make a regular JRPG like Xenoblade 2.

In no world will a F2P game not have microtransactions.

Anyways, localize plz

In the anime, they basically play the game on a switch:
http://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Phantasy-Star-Online-2-The-Animation-Screenshot-01-1024x576.jpg

Back when it aired I remember wondering if they knew about a new PS vita that we weren't aware of yet.

Good news! Please bring it to North America!

WOW!! That's a biggie!! Come west!

When I first saw it I said 'This looks like one of those stupid 'free to play' games with tons of paid micro-transactions" and not to my surprise a few seconds later they said it was lol

Random connection, but adding PayPal as a payment option makes sense now.

It's been FIVE YEARS since they RELEASED this already. I wish there'd be english subtitles in the Switch version so I could import it.

I hope there's a single player campaign too. (I dunno nothing about this game, really).

@jswhitfield8

No, there's nothing wrong or odd with the numbering.

1. Phantasy Star Online - Episode I
2. Phantasy Star Online - Episode II
3. Phantasy Star Online - Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution
4. Phantasy Star Online - Episode IV: Blue Burst
5. Phantasy Star Online 2 - Episode I: Cloud

At least we will be able to download it from the Japanese eshop, too bad I won't understand a word of it.

I hope the music is as good as Ragol or better.

I'm so excited for this! I wish it'd come stateside.

As a PS Vita owner, I was dead piss that Sega never bring this one over. I now had hope for the Switch version, don't disappoint me Sega.

I was just saying how Sega should expand upon it's family of characters. Awesome. The more we see these brands come back then the more nostalgic fans will be interested and it might hook newer generations. Now bring back Shinobi.

@link3710 The microtransactions are not nearly as bad as you'd think. You can get 'Premium' status for what goes for a normal monthly fee in standard MMOs, and there's absolutely nothing there P2W-- all gear can be obtained normally through regular play.

It's actually so well designed that I pay for Premium just to support the game. If it was even remotely P2W, I would have dropped it years ago.

Sadly, the Switch version looks like it's a streaming service as opposed to a native port, so even if you download it from the Japanese eShop, it'll probably have really nasty latency.

OMG!! Heck yeah!! I love Phantasy Star Portable 2. Even though this has microtransactions, I can still manage to have a lot of fun with it for free (unless the microtransactions are for clothes and costumes, because if they are then there goes all my money).

I'd give my 3rd nut for a traditional numbered Phantasy Star single player romp. PSV anyone? ...anyone? ....No one? ...<crickets>...

Um. Phantasy Star Online 2 came out YEARS ago and the English release was cancelled just as long ago. Like Dragon Quest X, we're not getting this MMO outside of Japan.

Oh man, Damo... Wow...

PSO2 came out in 2012... This is NOT a new game. It has always been free to play. This is simply the Cloud streaming version of PSO2; it's similar to the 3DS version of DQX.

@Utena-mobile Here you go, here's a link to the English patched version, if you're interested.

YESSSSS I was slightly sad that xeno 2 wasn't getting mechs(no surprise but I was hoping) so this game uplifted me. So excited for this, hopefully English is option if not I'm fine with playing in Japanese! Hypeee

YESSSSS I was slightly sad that xeno 2 wasn't getting mechs(no surprise but I was hoping) so this game uplifted me. So excited for this, hopefully English is option if not I'm fine with playing in Japanese! Hypeee

YESSSSS I was slightly sad that xeno 2 wasn't getting mechs(no surprise but I was hoping) so this game uplifted me. So excited for this, hopefully English is option if not I'm fine with playing in Japanese! Hypeee

So i take it that no one who works here knows anything about the F2P MMO that came in 2012?

Seems like as a gaming news site... research is not Nintendolife's strong suit

@yuwarite
OMG! Thank you so much x1000! You're awesome!
(^+^ )

As a PSO fan, I'm so tired of being jerked around

Ah, poop!

@roy130390 Exactly this, I've sank over 230 hours into Neverwinter on the Xbox One and I haven't paid a penny. Free to play can be totally free if you're willing to progress at a slightly slower rate.

What @yuwarite said.

I am not familiar with PSO games and where and how they released, but I can read Japanese a little and the logo at 0:20m says "Cloud Game", which to me instantly sounded like a streaming service (the logo also looks like a servcie or feature logo, not like thje game title... ). To me this means that it will certainly not come to the West for infrastructure reasons alone.

Either way, cloud gaming is not for me.

Wow bring this to europe very soon lol. I always loved The phantasy star.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I'm not even sure why "new" is in the article title. This is an updated port of the original Phantasy Star Online 2.

The microtransactions subtitle seems unnecessary too since the game its based off of has microtransactions and is "free to play".

The game will most likely make it out of Japan (not sure if you guys in Europe will get it though). There were originally plans to bring PSO2 to NA but it was delayed (most likely due to this substantial update to the game I'm guessing).

@kitroplious We'll probably end up getting it in NA since Sega mentioned plans to do so (that have since been delayed, maybe because of this major update or perhaps they arrived at a publishing deal with Nintendo?)

It would nice if they localise it but hey the Switch is region free.

I just have to for nostalgia purposes.

@jswhitfield8 what? Are you talking about PSO Episodes 1-4 and then getting PSO2? Because the previous all had episode in the name because they were multiple episodes of the same game, hence why you could more or less carry your same save file through them.

Translate this please!

Please let this come to the west, love this series. D:

Oh, how I wish we could get a remaster of PSO Blue Burst. So sick of having my nerdy little heart broken by Sega with this franchise.

Oh screw you, SEGA. This mentally crippled me.

0:18 Totallylooked liked that one angel from Bayonetta. The one the lumen sage uses.

Wait, Phatasy Star Online 2: Cloud? So, it's a reboot of the original PSO2, judging by the footage, as there's lots of non-strict space-only theme stuff, more "fantasy", and mechs apparently (And why am I getting a strange Xenoblade Chronicles X vibe from this, though, I did get a PSO vibe from XCX originally to be far lol). Hunh... interesting. then there's free-to-play, but micro-transactions. This one has a loooooong way before even an inkling of a chance of coming west, but I'll keep an eye open regardless.

Let's bring it Stateside!

@Gauchorino and saves you a few hundred bucks too

Omg my favorite online RPG which i have played every version of. Anounced day after I sell my Switch! **sadface** I doubt it gets ported but if it does Back to the store to buy a new Switch

@link3710 actually several Phantasy star games were free to play. the micro transactions are only for aestetics like your character's outfit and bedroom decorations. afaik they never had the pay to win or paid only items that gave unfair advantage. either way i dont even think there is competitive play in the PS series so except doing mission more easily the wouldnt get more than that

No it won't be localized. And no I wouldn't buy it anyway since it's a cloud game.

Hard pass for me.

I played PSO and episode 2 on original Xbox. Everytime I see or read a new pso is coming out I get excited. Up till they flip me the bird with japan only. They have to know that PSO has a big following outside japan.

Is £29.99 too much for Resident Evil 4? Yes for a download version.

For a physical copy with enhanced graphics £29.99 would be OK.