Microsoft unveiled a surprise announcement during its E3 2019 press conference–after nearly eight years, beloved MMO Phantasy Star Online 2 will finally launch in the West. The news landed on the Xbox stage at this year’s E3, but Xbox head Phil Spencer confirmed the game will arrive on other platforms.
Spencer sat down with Giant Bomb co-founder Jeff Gerstmann to talk about the company’s presence at E3 2019. The nearly 50-minute interview saw the two chat about the excitement surrounding the MMO’s Western reveal. “I’m not trying to say this is because of me but I said [to Sega], ‘You know, so many of the constructs in today’s online console games were born in Phantasy Star and 90 percent of the gamers today don’t know what a Phantasy Star Online is,'” Spencer told Gerstmann.
The Western Localization trailer revealed during E3 2019, above, announces that Phantasy Star Online 2 will finally make its way to North America. And while Spencer couldn’t confirm whether the game will appear in other regions like Europe and the Middle East because “Sega’s ultimately responsible for it,” he did say the game isn’t console exclusive. “Yes, it will end up on all platforms.”
There’s no specification on what “all platforms” means, and Gerstmann didn’t press for clarification on this statement, but Spencer is certain the MMO will not just be exclusive to the Xbox family. Spencer “happens to have a soft spot” for Phantasy Star Online, believes “it can be a meaningful franchise,” and is just excited to work with Sega again.
Phantasy Star Online 2 will arrive sometime in Spring 2020.
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