Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis will release in 2021 on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X. New information promises more MMORPG elements than its predecessor.
What’s new in PSO: New Genesis? Essentially, New Genesis could be called a sequel, but it’s not named Phantasy Star Online 3. There’s a lot that’s new, so you can expect basically a different and new game:
- It has a new engine that makes Phantasy Star Online 2 (2012 release in Japan) look modern and really good
- You are in an open world rather than small areas
- You encounter more players in the world
- The class system is revised
- There are new abilities
- The story takes place 1,000 years in the future
- Exploration is more in the foreground
With Open World to MMORPG
What exactly does the open world offer? The developers refer to the open world of Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis as “Open Field.” It is a very large, open zone with a lot to discover.
- World events take place where you need the help of other players
- You complete quests in the Open Field
- You can find cocoons that lead you to instances just for you and your group
- There is a big city, Central City, that functions as a hub. There you can find 100 players per server.
- In Central City you access quests, team up with other players, trade, and engage in crafting.
- You can swim to reach certain places in the Open Field.
- There are teleporters, the Ryuker Devices, which allow you to shorten routes.
So is Phantasy Star Online 2 with New Genesis an MMORPG? Until now, you have been in smaller areas in PSO 2 and can explore these in the group you have assembled in the hub. However, you do not encounter other players in the zones. There aren’t really any world events where you need the help of other players.
With the open world, foreign players, more exploration, world events, and teleporters, Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is now much closer to being an MMORPG. Whether it will truly become an MMO and play like one remains to be seen.
What else is interesting? PSO 2: New Genesis allows you to jump back and forth between the “old” Phantasy Star Online 2 and the new version. Therefore, it is also possible to transfer your character from PSO 2 – at least partially.
The graphics of the “old” PSO 2 will be improved to prevent any visual break during the transition.
When does PSO 2: New Genesis start? A closed beta is planned for late January or early February in Japan. The release of the online role-playing game is supposed to occur globally sometime later in 2021 on PC and Xbox One as well as Xbox Series X/S.
Do you want to play a new MMORPG now? These 4 have already been released in 2020.
