In July 2020, the Xbox Games Showcase revealed Phantasy Star Online 2- New Genesis. Xbox made a big deal of bringing Phantasy Star Online 2 for the West (and for English speakers globally) in 2019, so for most folks (like us at the time) might have brushed off as another update to the long-running free-to-play MMORPG.
Turns out, there’s a lot more going on with PSO2: NGS.
New Genesis is the first major overhaul for PSO2, so major that it will be a different client/release.
The world has been revamped to a bigger scale- from old-school Monster Hunter-style small maps to wider “open-fields”. Characters also get new mobility options like a Photon Dash and Photon Glide. There’s also a revamp to the combat system, and new enemy types.
NGS also uses a new graphics engine, so the world and characters get a major upgrade in looks. And a bump of PC spec requirement is expected for PSO2 and PSO2:NGS.
PSO2 lets players layer in accessories on their characters’ head, but NGS will expand accessories placement to the rest of the body as well. So you can make more beautiful (or cursed) characters. Also, moveable fingers, with new emotes and armours to make use of them.
The wildest new thing about NGS is that it will exist alongside PSO2, not replacing it. Characters are shared between PSO2 and PSO2: NGS, and can move back-and-forth between the two games. So you can play PSO2 now and just move to NGS when that arrives. Or if you wait for NGS and now curious about the older PSO2, it will still be there as well.
Equipment like weapons and units (armour addition) can be carried over to NGS (with stat or gameplay tweaks). So is specific customisation items and emotes. But items that affect the game economy (like in-game currencies Mesetas and Star Gems), and things that affect character growth (levels, learned skills, and more) do not.
More recently last month, a broadcast has shown off more of what to expect of NGS, including an-depth look at the improved character creator and the new “open fields” area.
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis (in English) will be coming later this year for PC (Steam, Microsoft Store) and Xbox One (and also playable on Xbox Series X|S).