SEGA has revealed its upcoming title, Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, through a trailer played during today's Xbox Games Showcase. The action-packed fantasy MMORPG is slated for a global 2021 release on the Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC, with PS4 and Switch versions planned for (at least) Japan.
Phantasy Star Online 2 made it to Western Xbox One/PC systems just this April/May, but Japanese gamers have been enjoying the unique RPG since 2012. This stylish tech-heavy fantasy was made as a sequel to Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Universe, and is available as a free-to-play game. New Genesis seems to be a sort of expansion/remaster hybrid in the works.
Following the exciting trailer, players were left wondering whether Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis would be a standalone game or not. Although the title seems to suggest it's an expansion of the existing Phantasy Star Online 2, the official game description stipulates that the game has "been redesigned as a best-in-class online action RPG experienc."
The trailer itself reveals an expansive new world, not to mention totally new enemies and updated mechanics for players to explore as any of the game's 9 classes. New mountainous environments, lush with greenery, play host to unknown creatures that seem to be part organic, part machine. The player character can also be seen fighting these new baddies and showing off flashy new melee maneuvers throughout the video. This new material is also introduced with apparently improved graphics, which further hints at the fact this may be an expansion pack/remaster fusion.
Another fact worth mentioning is found at the end of the trailer(s). While the American English-language trailer shown during the Xbox Games Showcase ended with an announcement that Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis would be coming to Xbox consoles and PCs, the regional trailer shown in Japan also included the PS4 and Nintendo Switch as release consoles. Unfortunately, this may be simply due to the fact that Phantasy Star Online 2 is already available on those consoles in Japan. However, it's nonetheless indicative of the fact that New Genesis may eventually make it over to those consoles in the West (perhaps once they handle those pesky server issues from launch.)
Also noteworthy is the game's update history. Despite a 2012 release, this MMORPG continues to receive regular updates. While a recent Phantasy Star Online 2 update introduced new crossover skins, players currently await the introduction of "Earth" as a new world in August. This addition marks the first significant content update to the game since its late spring arrival to the States, and will not only feature Earth as a new planet to explore, but will also increase level caps and introduce new sorts of enemies. That being said, if an entire new world and new enemies are the features of a regular content update, fans can certainly expect a complete shake-up from New Genesis - the trailer only seems to be the tip of this iceberg.
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is coming to PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in 2021.
Source:Â SEGA