Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, the companion game to Sega’s 2012Phantasy Star Online 2,has been making waves since the announcement of a North American release ofits PlayStation MMOport on August 31st. One of the most popular MMORPGs in Japan, the initial official North American localization was launched in 2020, serving to boost the popularity of this cult-classic property in other parts of the world. With the port ofPhantasy Star Online 2as well as itsPhantasy Star Online 2: New Genesiscompanion game announced for a new release set to certainly lend a massive boost to the already popular MMO’s traffic, Sega has been hyping up the new launch with some convention-exclusive physical merchandise, as well as giveaways for virtual items at two major fan events, both in America and Japan.
The announcement forPSO2/PSO2NG’s PS4 port coincided with Sega’s all-stops-out booth at Anime Expo 2022, in which physical merchandise for several of Sega’s iconic properties was available in addition to handouts of exclusivePSO2in-game items. The merchandise line included clothing, glassware, and button sets inspired bySonic the Hedgehog,Persona,the largerMegami Tenseifranchise, and, of course,Phantasy Star. While fans at the convention got first claim to this merchandise, Sega and Atlus have released several offerings online as wellthrough the ATLUS store.
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In addition to the physical merchandise,Phantasy Star Online 2was a strong presence, with Sega representatives showing off concept art and making it known thatthis major Japanese IPwas about to be made a whole lot more accessible in North America. Fans made special note of the exclusive in-game cosmetics available for attendees, handed out both for devoted fans and potential newcomers to the series. Special items, which can’t be given as in-game trades, include several in-game shirt designs, an idle animation emote, and a new in-game Mag skin.
While these promotional in-game items were centered aroundAnime Expo in Los Angeles, SEGA has also made it a point to give out more in Japan this weekend at ARKS EXPO, aPhantasy Star Online-centered convention held on July 17 at the Tokyo Big Sight. Because these items can’t be exchanged between users in-game, they make for a great digital souvenir for these big events both in North America and Japan.
While Sega has not made any other announcements on other events that may feature these digital exclusives, it is taking deliberate care to hype up a new set of fans ahead of the PS4 localization launches later this summer. After all, the PS4 localization is sure to make one ofJapan’s most popular JRPGsaccessible to a new swath of players, and Sega has every intention to keep that momentum going.
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesisis Set for a PS4 Port on May 25, 2025.
