Phantasy Star Online 2 announced (PC), alongside Phantasy Star Portable 2: Infinity (PSP)

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Phantasy Star Online 2 logo
Phantasy Star Online 2 has been announced for PC alongside Phantasy Star Portable 2: Infinity for PSP. Both in time for the 10-year anniversary of the series!

The former in particular is HUGE news for fans of the long-running Sega online RPG series and is the first direct follow-up to the original Dreamcast sensation.

That original online RPG for Dreamcast, released in 2001 was followed by releases on DC for a “Ver. 2” update, “Episode 1 & 2” on Xbox1 and GameCube, “Episode III: Card Revolution” also on GCN, and “Episode IV: Blue Burst” which was an expansion of Episode 1 and 2 with additional content released for PC.

Since then the series has spun-off into different forms, namely Phantasy Star Universe and Phantasy Star Universe 2 for PC, Xbox 360 and PS2 and the PSP titles Phantasy Star Portable 1 and Phantasy Star Portable 2 along with the DS entry Phantasy Star Zero.

Here is a trailer for Phantasy Star Online 2, which also shows the history of the franchise. So far the game is only coming to PCs (hopefully it’ll come to consoles as well) and will be released next year.

Here are some of the known details on PSO2 thanks to PSO-World:

  • “Action” and “RPG” re-connected.
  • Increased variety of client orders.
  • Map functions changing in real time.
  • User-created story.
  • New interface for environmental interactions.
  • Global support.
  • Thorough racial balances.
  • Full user participation events.
  • Seasonal changes.
  • New chat system.
  • New mail functions.
  • Drastic item synthesis overhaul.
  • Even wider variety of ways to raise your character.
  • New direction of event scenes.
  • Approach from NPCs (possibly a new approach to NPCs?).
  • Silhouette changes by add-ons.
  • New photon arts.
  • Community supported content.
  • Additional character customization.
  • Category-based weapon training system.
  • Implementation of asynchronous communication.
  • New party system.
  • Improved enemy AI / cooperation.
  • Limitless content.
  • New approach to the game client.
  • Implementation of a new “life work”.
  • Daily surprises.
  • “Trump card” system.
  • Mutual interaction functionality for new and veteran users.


    • Additionally, Sega reveled solid details on Phantasy Star Portable 2: Infinity.

    It will be released in Japan for PSP on February 24, 2011 in both digital and physical versions. Those who pre-order the game will snag a redeemable code for the following items:

  • Flowen Suit and Rico Dress (Clothes and parts sets based on Heathcliff Flowen and “Red Ring” Rico Tyrell’s clothing from PSO.)
  • Meniscurs (twin saber) and Fortuna (sword)
  • “Bonds Mission” code (To be used in the new mission creation feature to add Dilla Bravas as the boss to a mission.)

    • The game will include new and returning weapons along with new Technics. I’m sure you can also count new bosses, environments and the like to be in there as well. Here are a few that are shown in the trailer:

  • Foverse (A new fire Technic which creates fireballs that circle your character.)
  • Zero Cane (A wand originally featured in Phantasy Star Zero.)
  • Infinite Saber (A new twin saber.)

    • Additionally, Sega announced that the European digital PSP version of Phantasy Star Portable 2 will hit the PSN store on October 6, 2010. A Japanese Phantasy Star Portal web-site was also launched with a history of the entire series.

    Here is Phantasy Star Portable 2: Infinity in action.