About a month ago, the new MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis appeared in the Microsoft Store and on Steam. With Sega as the developer and Microsoft as the publisher, the game has a lot of potential – but how does it look a month after release? We at MeinMMO take a look at the game.
How many people are currently playing PSO2: New Genesis? Phantasy Star Online 2 was released in 2020 in the West and built a small community on Steam. However, with the release of New Genesis, the player count rose significantly but is now slowly declining. Although player numbers are falling, PSO2 has almost doubled its player base with New Genesis.
While the average player count in January 2021 was still around 5,200, it surged to up to 17,580 in June due to the release. Currently, the player numbers on Steam range between 7,000 to 10,000 active players per day.
It is important to note that the mentioned numbers refer only to players on Steam. However, the game is also offered outside of Steam, and unfortunately, we do not have those numbers. The general picture presented by the development should, however, largely correspond with the Steam numbers.
Why are player numbers declining? According to the community, New Genesis offers cool classes and has fun movement mechanics that make the gameplay enjoyable. However, there is a lack of content. After playing PSO2:NG for 20 to 30 hours, you have really seen almost everything New Genesis has to offer.
We must assume that many players enjoyed their time with the game and have now already played through the available content. Currently, there is a significant content gap in the endgame, which the developers promise to fill, yet have not been able to do so so far.
The content that the existing PSO2 offers has likely been completed by many players, given the age of the game. Player numbers are definitely decreasing because players simply have little to nothing to do at the end.
What do players say about it? There is much discussion about the game on Reddit, where we find some interesting points of view reflecting player opinions. The comments often underline what we have already inferred from the numbers.
- One user, killerkonnat (via reddit), writes: ‘The game was released 3 to 5 months too early. The gameplay is nice, but it offers ridiculously little content.’
- This opinion is echoed by user DanishJohn (via reddit): ‘The content schedule for the game is quite slow. I would suggest coming back in two years when they have new stuff made and then continue playing. You really don’t have to worry about not catching up with current players.’
- A_Crow_in_Moonlight even refers to the game as alpha (via reddit): “Honestly, it feels like an alpha. The game looks beautiful, the combat is decent, and there are many interesting systems to build upon… and that’s it. […]. Right now, everything feels like placeholder content. NGS can be a fun game, but at the moment it’s not a game you can invest dozens or hundreds of hours into.’
Conclusion after one month
After listening to the feedback on Reddit and analyzing the player numbers, as well as considering the previous content of the game, the following conclusion can be drawn.
In conclusion, we can say that PSO2: New Genesis is not in a great position a month after release. Player numbers are dwindling and are likely to continue falling unless new content for the game arrives in a timely manner.
Nonetheless, the game is not bad; it currently offers too little to keep a potential player engaged for long. We at MeinMMO will of course continue to keep an eye on the game for you.
PSO 2: New Genesis brings more MMO into the RPG
What is PSO2:NG? New Genesis is not exactly a new game. Phantasy Star Online 2 was released in Japan in 2012 and in the West in 2020. However, with New Genesis, completely new content has been released that functions independently.
Both games, however, run through the same launcher and when you create a character, you can choose whether to play PSO2 or New Genesis. You can even transfer your character back and forth later, but only the appearance will remain, not the attributes and equipment.
In this video from TheLazyPeon, you can see the first impressions of PSO2:NG:
How does New Genesis play? A lot has changed with the major update. Previously, you would only meet players in dedicated hub areas to then go together into instances, but New Genesis is a true open world where you can meet other players. The game has thus become more of an MMORPG.
Another highlight of the game is the incredible freedom in movement. You can perform normal jumps, double jumps, and even wall jumps, and then glide down slowly. With a little practice, you can almost fly over the map.
As for combat, New Genesis features an action combat system that has been further improved compared to PSO2. You must actively aim and attack your opponents with the mouse buttons. In New Genesis, you can experience this with six different classes:
- Hunter, a melee fighter who relies on his sword and can take a hit
- Fighter, a melee fighter who focuses more on damage than on defense
- Ranger, a ranged fighter who can support teammates in battle
- Gunner, a ranged fighter with two pistols and a lot of mobility
- Force, best compared to an elemental mage
- Techer, a ranged fighter with long range, who supports his teammates
New Genesis does not include the classes Braver, Bouncer, or Summoner that exist in PSO2, these can still only be played in PSO2.
What do you think of New Genesis? Have you played it yet? How do you assess the current situation? Feel free to leave us a comment.
If you want to start playing Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis now but are unsure about which class to play, we have a solution for you. New Genesis Class Guide 2021 – Which one suits me?
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