Another title announced during the Xbox Games Showcase, which also happens to be making its way to the Nintendo Switch in 2021 is Sega's Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis. According to Xbox Wire, this is the "latest entry" in the PSO2 universe - although, it's also been described as an "update" by Sega.
The bad news is this free-to-play game remains exclusive to Japan on this particular platform. This is all because the Nintendo version is cloud-based. It follows on from the release of Phantasy Star Online 2 Cloud on the hybrid system in 2018.
New Genesis celebrates the 20th anniversary of the series and is an overhaul of PSO2 - with improved game design, gameplay, and a graphics engine that's been completely reworked. At the same time, it promises to keep all the "time-tested" elements intact - to ensure it offers a familiar online action-RPG experience players know and love.
Above is an English trailer for the North American release on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. Would you like to see Sega somehow get this up and running on the Switch in the west? Have you played the second game? Tell us down below.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 58
Be nice to see PSO2 and PSO2: Genisis on Switch outside of Japan. But seeing it come to Windows 10 is good enough.
Nice to see the game actually have a global release then a JPN exclusive.
I would have loved to jump back into this world. Curse my limited linguistics!
I’d rather have a new Phantasy Star RPG that doesn’t have online in its name. A grand single player experience to rival that of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy!
Wow... I'm surprised they didn't just wait for this to launch to bring it to the Xbox in the first place. Or is that one still in beta... If it's still in beta then that explains why - this'll be the official launch.
I played the game on PC for a bit. Then one day, Microsoft Store errors happened. Shame, since I loved what I played. Either going to wait for the Microsoft Store errors to get fixed, or for it to come to Steam given they did say more PC platforms soon, before playing again.
The update does look really nice, hope this doesn't have the same issue the NA PC version has.
I'd rather have Xenoblade Chronicles X remaster anyway
“Cloud based” can actually work well. Be interested to see it in action on Switch. Cross progression with PC would be good news also.
Have it installed on my PC. A good update/upgrade Is needed. Some of it is a bit rough at this point.
AW DAMIT!!
Europeans likes sci-fi rpg's too!
I might give this a try if the game has language options and doesn't check your location when booting up so it is truly Japan exclusive.
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis on Switch Oh!
Exclusive to Japan oh.
@HotGoomba And it's cloud based! Ohhhhhh....
@yuwarite
Eh, I'm kinda fine with that, besides, it IS an online game.
@Sunsy Try downloading the game, via Arks Layer: http://na.arks-layer.com/setup.html
Not on topic, but it is SEGA related. Did Nintendo Life just upload an article on the release date for the Sonic Movie sequel and immediately delete it? I clicked on a broken link, and when I refreshed the home page, it was gone. Was it actually false information?
@HotGoomba But it's a very frame-specific online game. It plays like a Devil May Cry, where timing your attacks/block/dodge/counter, etc, plays a bigger part than typical mmo's.
@Not_Soos Nope, I just gave it a title change and then sent it live again.
@Liam_Doolan Alrighty, haha. Thanks for the clarification.
@Not_Soos No prob!
Back on topic, I would love to be able to play PSO2 on my Nintendo Switch.
The Xbox and PC version isn't even available in my region, so I had to change my location settings just to download it. It's been great so far, and I'll definitely be checking out this revamped version, if possible.
Again Sega is doing themselves a disservice to their fans for not bringing this to the west. Nobody want to be restricted to just the Xbox to play this game.
PSO2 Cloud on the Switch is region-locked and wouldn’t let me play from the US. It breaks my heart but it will probably be the same case with this one.
@Shade_Koopa PSO2 is in the west dude. Officially.
Well guess what the people who are professional hackers are going to hack this game on their switch in America and Nintendo will not be able to stop them. Why because hackers always outsmart Nintendo some how. They may be stuck with Japanese people online but longs the hackers are having fun.
@Shade_Koopa yeah but i'd still rather have DQ10 finally making it to our shores. Ideally both and more
Well Sega..
Where is Phantasy Star V?
Phantasy Star IV remake?
The last true Phantasy Star entry was on the Sega Megadrive/Genesis. It's Chaz time!
is it free , or monthly subscription or buy to play ?
Never played a Phantasy Star game, but the video made me think of a full action Xenoblade Chronicles!
It's cloud based? Even worse than digital only, not only will they take your money, but when they cant be bothered with it anymore they will just turn off the server. Just look at Pokemon Rumble mobile thingy
Played the first one way to death and loved it. But that was offline and in split screen which this new one doesn't have. So I'll probably pass on it just don't have the time to dedicate anymore.
Cloud version? WUHUUU
-YEEEEEEEEEE...
-Reads "exclusive to Japan"
-...NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
@Bizzyb XCX reminds me a lot of Phantasy Star franchise!
And the city, of Midgar from FFVII...at least, from outside
@RedBlueSpot Phantasy Star doesnt exist at all? I know there are sequels, but there isnt a fifth numbered game yet? 😥
Personally I'd rather receive a port of Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II for the Switch. Playing it on the go would be awesome.
It has been confirmed for Game Pass worldwide.
I will play it and I will love it.
I've never gone "Yay!" "No!" so fast before.
Didn't realize PSO2 was on PC! Anybody who plays want to send a referral?
@FantasiaWHT @BlueOcean Its already out and free to play.
@BlueOcean How do F2P games work with GamePass? Since the game is fueled by digital currency and/or subscriptions, isn't it financially the same with or without GP?
@Yorumi Paid online may or may not be ending on XBox. The rumor mill is running after they ended the 12 month Live subscriptions (you can only buy monthly, or I think 6 months now as of last week.) This comes after they announced GP Ultimate will include xCloud streaming (GP Ultimate is GP for XBox + GP for PC + xCloud (coming soon.))
Nothing is confirmed but it's one of those "all but confirmed" things in the rumor mill with people that are very connected interviewing saying "it's not a 100% done deal, but it's a 100% done deal."
Makes sense, they're now going to have 3 different subscriptions (GP XBox, xCloud, and GP Ultimate with all of the above + PC.) 4 subs doesn't make a lot of sense, and they're already bundling with the ones they have.
Expectations right now are when they announce hardware prices, they'll also announce that online play will be free/"Gold" will be free. I presume the "free" games either get cancelled or moved into the GP/Ultimate bundles instead. Makes sense. They started the whole pay for online thing, they can be the first to end it now that they have better monetization schemes, and brings more parity to Windows which has been a theme for them.
It's also a mic drop moment against Sony who would almost certainly follow suit and drop paid online as they have followed every single MS policy over the past 2 years (Now's reaction to GamePass has been hilarious.)
@Yorumi LOL, yeah.....the last to start, and they're still right! At least that would prevent them from raising the cost over time I'd bet.... and for both Sony and Nintendo we all know we'd still have to pay for cloud saves, where, ironically, MS never required paying to get cloud saves, they've always been free even without Gold. Or at least post-360 era.
Makes sense though, at this point, XBox is more or less just a prefab PC with a single store. Not such a bad thing.
Remind me again how SEGA is still aflot? their decisions are so questionable it makes me wonder, how they are still in business
@MegaVel91 I know it's in the west. I play the game all the time.
I SAID it would be nice for NA version to be on Switch as well. Not just Windows 10 and Xbox. I don't think I mention anything about the game not being in the west at all. DUDE...
@Sparkus Just curious in what ways? I used to love PSO. Btw cool icon
@Yorumi If we could ever play every PC game ever on an iPad it would be both wonderful and terrifying. Though I think with the future of cloud streaming that's more likely than we think regardless.
I still question Apple going ARM.....Windows dominance really makes an x86-less world seem unlikely. Seems a weeird choice. Forget PPC, remember the S-Mac?
Sounds like you've played PSO2....how is it, monetization wise?
@Bizzyb In the world, the alien/android-world like aesthetics, the enemies, has an style quite similar to what Phantasy Star established compared to other series, I would like to see an XCX 2 on Nintendo Switch, and I am even more excited to see this Phantasy Star (which I hope will arrive to all the world)
Interestingly, the animations of the character running in this trailer, and jumping, closely resemble those of XCX. If possible, I would not complain about seeing a possible future collaboration.
About the icon thanks! Pokémon Crystal is my favorite game
@doctorhino Awesome.
@NEStalgia I haven't checked the game on Xbox One X yet and it will be my first Phantasy Star game...
@NEStalgia Was online free on PS3? Yep, Sony trying to copy Game Pass was hilarious.
@BlueOcean Yep, PS3 had free but bad online. That was a big deal vs paid 360 for many.
The only reason they didn't get brutalized for announcing they were charging with PS4 was because XBox One was a $500 always online voyeur box, so ANYTHING looked better.
a phantasy star online for VR would be cool. not that itll happen anytime soon..
Is it just me, or wasn't PSO2 announced for Switch here (the west), too, when it was first unveiled during E3 for Xbox? I thought I remembered it being said it would be coming to Switch and PS4 as well as Xbox, eventually. Or am I wrong in remembering that?
Played the PSO2jp for over 400hrs so, not going to stop now. Can't wait for this to release on pc!
@Highlar It was announced for Switch and PS4...in Japan. They never said anything about it coming to the west. Just that Xbox and PC would have it. I'm almost positive that Xbox paid for timed exclusivity to keep it from coming to the west. I have no proof of that though.
Konami and Sega are racists, where is west releases of baseball and phantasy star online?
is there a keyboard for switch?
@Yorumi I agree that Sonic is their biggest mess at the moment. But have you noticed that SEGA has made games for every other console, specially the PS4 but not the Switch? Sakura Wars came out I think right? PS4 only, why not also the Switch? I doubt the game even sold that well because I didn't even noticed when it came out. Of course I could be wrong, but not including the Switch in their development make them miss on great sales numbers Switch is mostly used for ports, if they even consider porting it.
Yes I would like Sega to bring PSO2/PSO2NGS for Nintendo Switch to us too in US and Canada.
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