Author: Ricardo

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis Launch Date

• Global and Japanese version will release simultaneously.
• Launch will begin June 2021!

New Genesis Character Creator Benchmark

• A benchmark will be released in Late May for both Japan and Global.
• You can customize and save your character data for use in PSO2:NGS at launch!
• You'll be able to watch the opening cutscene with your character replacing Ash.

Changes made for Closed Beta Test #2

• Material Storage was implemented
• New Face patterns "Snipt face" and "Robust Face" were implemented
• Adjusted Gathering Material location
• Excluded Augment Capsules from activating the Rare Drop effect
• Adjusted the amount of drops form Weapons and Armor
• Increased EXP to align with the increase in HP of dread Enemies
• Petta Vera HP was adjusted
• Extended the spawn duration for Gigantix enemies.

Closed Beta No.2 Survey Results

Positive Feedback

• New face patterns allowed some to create characters as they had envisioned.
• Gathering Materials were easier to obtain
• Inventories has more room to breathe thanks to the Material Storage and the drop amount adjustments

Negative Feedback

• The mouth on Snipt face looks to realistic.
• The scratch ticket purchase effect looks too bright.
• You can't skip the dialogue, so there were requests to skip NPC dialogue related to tutorial tasks.
• Sometimes materials inside the material storage couldn't be used when affixing special abilities.

Changes to be Made by Launch or Shortly After Launch

• Adjustments to the "Snipt Face" at the mouth part
• Adjust Scratch Ticket purchase effects.
• Add the option to skip NPC dialogue in tutorial tasks.
• Fix players being unable to use materials from Material Storage for Special Ability affixing.
• Make more fixes for the matchmaking bugs that was not completely fixed during the test.

New Character: Aina

Aina (CV: Sumire Morohoshi / Amber Lee Conners)

• Aina is a 15 year old ARKS Trainee. She's the main heroine of the game.
• She's the first to meet the protagonist who arrived on a pod.

New Character: Mannon

Mannon (CV: Yume Miyamoto / Heather Gonzales)

• Mannon is a newman and the other main heroine of the game.
• Mannon arrived on a pod like the protagonist, however, unlike most Meteorn, she can remember some parts of her past.

New Character: Dozer / Bruder

Dozer / Bruder (CV: Tokuyoshi Kawashima / Chris Hackney)

• Dozer is a veteran Arks who will guide the player as their instructor.
• He's very strict to himself as well as those he teaches.
• Dozer will be known as Bruder in the Japanese version

New Character: Garoa

Garoa (CV: Kenta Miyake / Chris Smith)

• Goroa is Aina's father and the leader of Aelio town.
• He is one of the five strongest veteran Arks on Planet Halpha.

Story Introduction

The protagonist is a Meteorn who arrives from a pod onto a small island in West Aelio. Guided by Arks locals, the protagonist arrives first at Aelio town, and it is from here where their adventure begins!

New Character Creation Features

Ornament Display Setting

• Casts will have the option of toggling the display of ornaments for Head, Body, Leg, and Arm Parts.

New Default Cast Parts

• New default Cast parts will be added to Character Creation
• These parts were not available during the Closed Beta
• The left Cast has the design of a Technic class.
• The right Cast has the design of a Melee class.

Finger Only Lobby Actions (Emotes)

• Finger lobby actions can be used with other lobby actions for more expressive poses.
• You can use these Finger Lobby Actions on the older PSO2 Lobby Actions that don't have finger movements.

Expression Customization

• You can individually customize each of the main expressions.
• You can adjust the eyelids, eyebrows, the mouth shape (including the use of vowel sounds as the guide), and the tongue.

Starter Package

New Genesis Starter Package Japan Only

• Title: ファンタシースターオンライン2 ニュージェネシス スターターパッケージ
• Release Date: August 19th 2021
• Platforms: PS4 / PC / Cloud
• Price: 4,990 Yen (Approx $46 USD)
• Contains Item Codes for 9 In-Game Items

New Genesis Starter Package Limited Edition Japan Only

• Price: 5,990 Yen (Approx $55 USD)
• Contains the 9 in-game items AND a mini soundtrack.

Item Codes For the Special Package

Purchasing the Special Package will give you 9 in-game items for the Japanese version.

• Aelio Badge x12
• Mo: Swim – Crawl (Motion)
• St: Aina Ride The Wave (Stamp)
• 15 Day Premium Set (x2)
• 15 Day Material Storage (x2)
• N-Rare Drop Rate +50% (x3)
• N-EXP +10% (x3)
• Free Salon Pass
• N-Half Scape Doll (x5)

DLC Founder's Packs

Since the Starter Package is limited to Japan, players outside of Japan OR on the Global version can purchase a "Founder's Pack" to receive the same items as the Starter Package.

If Playing The Global Version

• There are two Founders Pack separated for Masculine and Feminine body types.
• The Packs are available from the Xbox One / Microsoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games.
• Swimsuit Pack 1 — $41.99
• Swimsuit Pack 2 — $43.99

If Playing the Japanese Version

• There are two Founders Packs separated for Masculine and Feminine body types.
• The Packs are available from the PS Store, Nintendo eShop, and the in-game AC Shop.
• Swimsuit Pack 1 — 4,300 Yen
• Swimsuit Pack 2 — 4,500 Yen

Pack Contents

エアリオナダール
Aelio Nadar

エアリオナージェ
Aelio Nager

アズミトヘアー
Azmito Hair

アズミナヘアー
Azmina Hair

レヴィアグラス
Levia Sunglasses

エスティヴコサージュ
Estive Corsage

エスティブパレオ
Estive Pareo

コンパスタトゥー
Compass Tattoo

エスティヴタトゥー
Estive Tattoo

レヴィアタトゥー / ナージェリンスリーブ
Leviathan Tattoo / Nagerin Sleeve

Mo 「泳ぐ:クロール」
MTN: Swim – Crawl

St「アイナ：波に乗ろう！」
STP: Aina – Surf's Up!

Campaigns

Closed Beta Test for Global Version Announced!

• More details will be announced at the Global site at a later date.

Enemy Types

• DOLLS
  • Bujin (Ninja-like enemy. When HP is low, it makes clones)
  • Daityl Sword (Giant, powerful, but slow. The heart is their weakpoint)
• FORMERS
  • Formers are enemies that appeared in PSO2.
  • Crag Bear (Does ground punch shockwaves and can jump and grab you)
  • Ard Banser & Ard Banshee (Now has wind howling and wind cutter attacks)
• ALTERS
  • Chiacurio (Can buff other enemies)
  • Waulon (Noted for its kick and spin attacks)

32 Man Battle

• Combat sections can hold up to 8 characters playing together, however, Exploration sections can hold up to 32 characters.
• Certain enemies will only show up in Exploration sections. Dread enemies are higher level variants of enemies that pose as the boss for that area. Gigantix enemies show up under certain conditions (notably thunderstorms, etc), they have higher levels than Dread enemies, and will leave after a certain amount of time.
• Exploration sections also have places where you can gather materials.

Character Creation Notes

• Cast Parts and Outerwear are now ticket based, so now your inventory won't fill up so quickly.
• Setwears are sort of the "costumes" of NGS, except that they take up the Basewear slot, and you can't use Outerwear with them.
• Weapon Camos can now be equipped per each weapon category.

Sub-Class

• Sub-Class stats no longer affect the main class
• All weapons, PA, Techniques that are available for the Sub-Class can be used.
• Some Class Skills, like those that have an impact on the weapons that can be equipped will apply for the main class.

Other Points

• Skill points are obtained from Cocoons and Towers.
• Skill points are account based, so you can immediately use skill points on new characters on your account.
• Limit Break increases the grind cap. You can strengthen ★1 weapons up to the strength of a ★4 weapon。
• Battle Power is a calculation of your stats, equipment, and skills. You need to have a certain amount of battle power to participate in Emergency Quests

Weapon Types

• Each of these weapon types will be available upon the game's official release.

Weapon Category: Partisan

• With the Class Skill "Volg Raptor," you can hold down the button to unleash photon spears. They will explode either after a certain amount of time, or when you inflict a certain amount of damage.

Weapon Category: Wired Lance

• Wired Lances have the largest area of normal attack for Hunter weapons.
• Damage increases when you attack from the correct range.
• The weapon action "Wired Anchor" allows you to close-in on enemies. As an example strategy, you can use Wired Anchor and then switch to another weapon type under the Multi-Weapon system.

Weapon Category: Launchers

• Launchers are a bit slow but dish out powerful attacks.
• The weapon action "Sticky Bomb" will attach a bomb that will detonate after a certain amount of time. Although this does not deal a lot of damage, it will be helpful in restoring PP.

Weapon Category: Twin Daggers

• Twin Daggers are a close range weapon with high mobility mid-air.
• Twin Daggers have a Class Skill that rushes you forward by normal attacking after a specific time from a PA.
• The weapon action "Dagger Spin" allows you to guard and move in emergencies.

Weapon Category: Double Saber

• Double Sabers hit multiple time in a short timeframe.
• Using a PA will activate a whirlwind, which strengthens as you hit enemies.
• The weapon action "Saber Parry" blocks enemy attacks.
• The class skill, "Deadly Archer," will unleash its attack when you hold down the weapon action button once the whirlwind is at its 2nd strength.

Weapon Category: Talis

• Talises can unleash Technics like usual, but now you can have the Talis surround your character, releasing attacks all around you.
• Talises work differently depending on the PA, so it's best to choose the right PA for the situation.
• After learning the skill "Talis Bloom Revoke," holding down the weapon action will allow the Talis to be retrieved quickly.
• You can also place a Talis, without using a PA, by using the weapon action button.

Positive Feedback

• Photon Dash feels good!
• Attack Actions feel great
• Issues with PSO2 such as chains have been improved.

Negative Feedback

• Difficult to aim at target with close-range weapons.
• Cancel timing is slow so it's hard to evade
• Enemy strength and EXP are unbalanced.
• Most sub-classes don't have useful skills

Changes for Closed Beta Test 2

• Aim priority improvement when the player chooses target lock-on view
• Ease the cancel timing of guarding with a sword
• Increase the HP, ATK, and EXP of all Dread enemies
• Increase the HP, ATK, and EXP of Pettas Vera

Positive Feedback

• The characters in PSO2 got upgraded and look pretty.
• The effects are pretty and battle actions feel nice
• The scenery is beautiful and it's fun to take screenshots.

Negative Feedback

• Character faces feel different in the Salon and in the field.
• I can't make the face that I wanted with the new face patterns
• Other player's effects are too bright.
• The screen shakes too much in battle, making it hard to see.
• It's too dark and hard to see at night.

Changes for Closed Beta Test 2

• Unify the Character Creation and Salon Screen view
• Add new Face pattern

Changes for Launch or Shortly After Launch

• Reduce the effects from other players
• Reduce screen shake effect
• Reduce the level of darkness at night.

Positive Feedback

• Gathering is connected to the weapon grinding cycle.
• Matchmaking at the location feels like an open world game which is good
• The seamless and natural matchmaking is great
• It is fun to travel around with the diverse terrains that have been prepared
• The world is huge, it's fun being able to go anywhere

Negative Feedback

• There aren't enough N-Grinders
• It's hard to know where the different minerals are
• Matchmaking sometimes failed
• Party members sometimes wouldn't join matchmaking
• Inventory quickly fills up.

Changes for Closed Beta 2

• Increased opportunities to get N-Grinders
• Adjusted the Mineral Gathering locations
• Reduced the drop rate of low rarity weapons and armor
• Added Material Storage

Changes for Launch or Shortly After Launch

• Make EQ matchmaking easy to understand
• Revise rules about party members accepting quests
• Increase information about what kinds of matchmaking outcomes will occur beforehand.

Positive Feedback

• Traveling with the warp feature is useful
• The menu items are organized

Negative Feedback

• Storage UI isn't easy to browse or understand
• Task-related guides aren't accurate
• The font is small and hard to see
• The Mini Map and Radar Map are unclear
• Level Up notifications and the chat take up a lot of space

Changes For CBT 2

• Adjust where to send Level Up notifications and its size
• Adjust the transition switching to and from the main menu

Changes for Launch or Shortly After Launch

• Improve the Storage UI to be easier to use
• Strengthen the accuracy of Task-related guides
• Make the font easier to see
• Improve the Mini-Map and Radar Map
• Adjust general chat size

Streaming Content in Let's Plays

• You can stream while using monetization functions in streaming services like YouTube, Nico Nico, USTREAM, and Twitch.
• You need to add the copyright "©SEGA" either at the beginning or end of videos or in the thumbnails/description.