Free-to-play MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2 is getting a big update, big enough to be its own game (but it’s not). Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis will be a new overhaul to PSO2 but not entirely replacing it, and it’s about to enter a closed beta test in Japan.
Sega has now shared a translated version of the recent PSO 20th Anniversary stream originally aired on December 26 in Japan, showing a closed beta test version of PSO2 NGS being played, on the PSO2 Global Youtube channel.
It’s a meaty 43-minute showcase, but you’ll have to put through an English dub of the presenters instead of reading subtitles. Still, it shows off the many improvements coming to NGS which are ground-breaking by PSO2 standards (like no loading screens), but nothing too wild in general.
The first two minutes show how you can seamlessly load from PSO2 to PSO2 NGS. Up to minute 10 is the presenters showcasing the new traversal mechanics (Photon Dash, Photon Dive, and Wall Kick) which enables parkour. Minute 11-20 showcase the combat, which is now more fast-paced. You can heal while sprinting, and there’s no Perfect Attacks to time your inputs for better damage. Minute 28 is where they showcase a bit of the character customisation.
PSO2 NGS looks to have, oddly enough, the same vibe as Genshin Impact in some ways with its gameplay structure. There’s an open-world with a hub town in the middle. There’s instanced dungeons. Fast travel is here. And some good traversal abilities too.
But that’s just our hunch, we’ll see how Phantasy Star Online 2 really plays like when it’s out later this year for Xbox consoles and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store).
For veteran players, Sega has also shared the details of what will and will not transfer between PSO2 and PSO2 New Genesis.