The former console giant SEGA has announced its strategies until 2020. They want to revive old franchises, bringing games more to the West. Finally, is Phantasy Star Online 2 coming to Europe and North America?
As Gematsu reports, SEGA has presented a new strategy at the end of the financial year in a business presentation. They call it “Road to 2020”.
The main goals of SEGA are,
to come to Europe and North America by expanding existing brands and establishing new brands
to revive old “big” brands – they are talking about a revival
to enter the digital market more strongly and create “global hits”. Here too, SEGA wants to publish more games in North America and Europe
Is Phantasy Star Online 2 finally coming? (Also for PS4?)
As an example of the digital titles, SEGA mentions “Phantasy Star Online 2” – it is an MMORPG that only runs in Japan. There is also an English version in Southeast Asia, but it will be discontinued at the end of May 2017.
Phantasy Star is one of SEGA’s “old brands”. These are milestones of console RPGs. The first Phantasy Star was released on the Sega Master System. Parts II to IV were then released for the SEGA Mega Drive. Except for the mediocre Phantasy Star III, all parts are considered fantastic and outstanding for their time.
The first MMORPG, Phantasy Star Online, also enjoys cult status among fans. It is still played on private servers.
Maybe there will finally be something with Phantasy Star Online 2 for Europe?
The MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2 has been announced for the West for years, but nothing is happening. One cannot really hope for a port anymore. After all, the game is already from 2012.
However: Phantasy Star Online 2 has now also been released for the PS4. Since April 2016, a PS4 version has been running in Japan and has performed quite well there. This could be an incentive to bring the game to the West. After all, MMORPGs on the PS4 have proven to be successful in Europe and North America, as Final Fantasy XIV and The Elder Scrolls Online demonstrate.
Anyone who really wants to play Phantasy Star Online from the West can probably gain access through a VPN server and various tricks, but that might not be an option for many players.
Reviving old brands
The statement that SEGA wants to “revive old brands” arouses desires among fans. Many still have vivid memories of the 80s and 90s when SEGA established strong brands. They dream of a new contemporary “Shining Force” or a current “Phantasy Star”.
But titles like Streets of Rage, Gunstar Heroes, and many others are also mentioned by fans. We will have to wait and see what exactly comes out of this.
Elsewhere, SEGA states that Persona 5 and Total War: Warhammer sold well. They sold 10.28 million units in the last fiscal year. Thus, the figures are higher than in the previous year.
Here are more details and conspiracy theories about Phantasy Star Online 2:
The online role-playing game Phantasy Star Online 2 was released in Japan back in 2012. In this online RPG, science fiction elements are mixed with fantasy. Des...
