On August 5, the online RPG Phantasy Star Online 2 (PSO 2) launched on Steam, having previously been available only through the Microsoft Store and officially only in the USA and Canada. But how did the Steam launch go and how is the game being received?
What is Phantasy Star Online 2 all about? The free-to-play online RPG debuted in Japan in 2012. In 2019, Microsoft announced that it would release the online game for Xbox One and PC. The PC release via the Microsoft Store took place on May 27. However, only players from the USA and Canada were officially able to participate.
However, there were some difficulties at launch, including error messages, location issues, and missing uninstallation options.
On August 5, the launch came through Steam – also for Europe. It is important that those who have already started via the Microsoft Store link their account with the game on Steam. Otherwise, all progress may be lost.
A Good Start on Steam
How is the online game doing now? Almost a week has passed since the release of PSO 2 on Steam. We take a look at how the mood is and how well the role-playing game is being received.
According to Steamcharts, the peak concurrent players reached 19,684. This is a very good start. Especially considering that PSO 2 is actually already 8 years old.
The reviews on Steam are currently at 82% and “Very Positive”. While there are also negative voices, the majority of critics complain about some technical problems that prevent them from entering the game, and some were apparently not clear that PSO 2 is indeed somewhat older – this is evident in the game now and will only change with the announced major overhaul coming in 2021.
Here are some of the voices about the game from the Steam community:
- Milkie says: “PSO2 is undoubtedly one of the best MMOs out there. With its active combat system, the gameplay is more engaging than traditional games in the genre. It may not have the largest variety in areas or the biggest game world, but what it has looks good and plays well.”
- Aerynes states: “It’s a lot of fun to play with friends. There are some minor issues, but nothing that hinders playability. It can be a bit confusing to figure out where to start with the quests since there are a lot of quests. Other than that, people are super nice and willing to help – so give it a try!”
- Vendon expresses disappointment over monetization: “You can only create 3 characters and have to pay for more. Want to use the auction house and sell your items? Well, then you’ll have to pay too. Want to trade items with your friends? Please pay to become a premium member. You can’t do it without it. For nearly everything, you need to be a premium member to use it.”
In general, it can be said that Phantasy Star Online 2 is doing quite well on Steam.
Would you like to check out some other interesting free-to-play online role-playing games? In the MeinMMO list of the 13 best free-to-play MMORPGs compared, you will surely find something.
