Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis is a free-to-play online action/RPG, well known for its unparalleled character customization and battle action which captivated the world.

This update may come as a surprise to those of you who are still playing Episode 3. In Japan, PSO2 recently celebrated its 8th anniversary and is gearing up for the end of Episode 6. Because the game system and graphics engine were created eight years ago, they may seem unrefined to modern players, especially to those of you whose adventures just began with the North American version. This is why the development team is preparing a massive update instead of a new episode—to give PSO2 the renewal it deserves.

We are proud to present this dramatic evolution to you as Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis. 

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Phantasy Star Online, we will be aiming for even greater heights and reshaping the story, game system, graphics engine, and character creation system. PSO2 will be reborn as an open-field online RPG, with a renewed battle system and game system to match!

You can continue to enjoy the original PSO2 even after PSO2: NGS has been released. Accounts that have been playing PSO2 will be able to hop between PSO2: NGS and PSO2.

SEGA shared a new Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis Headline with information on current operations, future updates, and campaigns.

Today's NGS Headline revealed the beginning of the 3rd Anniversary Campaign, new Leciel Exploration updates, sweet Build Parts, Parkour challenges, and more.

3rd Anniversary Campaign, Halpha's Super Origin Festival, Kicks off on April 24

Starting April 24th, a colossal campaign is stomping your way to commemorate the 3rd Anniversary of NGS in June - Halpha's Super Origin Festival! This tale woven on Planet Halpha will soon celebrate its third anniversary! As always, credit goes to all the ARKS Defenders out there. To express our gratitude, we have prepared some super phabulous campaigns, including Limited-time Events and new in-game content.

The NGS 3rd Anniversary event will be held across Planet Halpha. In addition to Central City's dazzling decorations, players will find changes in all the regions. Mischief Symbols will appear in the Exploration Sectors of each region, so be sure to enjoy the variety of landscapes in different locations as you seek them out.

Xiemi will be the navigator for this seasonal event, looking perfect in her hakama. She is investigating some anomalies happening in Halpha, so see what Xiemi has to say and help her out. The 9-star-Rarity Aeoni Dekelion weapon series will be available at Xiemi's Seasonal Points Exchange Shop. Weapons exchanged for here have a +80 Enhancement Level from the start, and the Potential has been unlocked up to Lv. 6, giving them 6 slots' worth of Augments, so players be able to make use of them right away.

In addition to the reappearance of the Anni Rappy at the NGS 3rd Anniversary Event, the new Anni Emperappy and Anni Great Rappy will also flap their way over for the festivities. The NGS 3rd Anniversary Event will feature the Limited-time Urgent Quest: Happy Rappy Rumble: Stia. Head to the event grounds to find bunches of Rappies and the Resplendent Nex with its dazzling attacks. The more enemies defeated, the more lively the event grounds will become, so work together to take down the swathes of approaching enemies. Celebrate the NGS 3rd Anniversary along with the Rappies in this spectacular Urgent Quest!

Other Limited-time Tasks and Title Tasks will also be added for this Event. By completing these Tasks, players can win TA Customization Disc X/Omni, Arms Refiner II, Anniversary SP Scratch Tickets, plus the Weapon Camo * Aeoni Dekelion Almati and more. Jump into this Limited-time Event for big-time rewards! And don't forget ARKS Records! Head over to the Field Race: Stia Outskirts Dash (Stage 1) to try your luck and sprint your way to the top of the charts!

Leciel Exploration Updates Begin on April 10

Starting April 10th, a new gameplay element will be added to Leciel Exploration. In addition to enemy level increases, there will be items that enhance Player Ability Buffs, some allowing for consecutive use of Photon Blasts, and others that further empower Throw Actions. Both offer exhilarating power-ups. A new DOLLS enemy called Giruva will appear in the new Trial Giruva Diversion, relentlessly pursuing players with its eerie appearance. Defeat Giruva to get powerful Ability Enhancements but be careful as your options to do so are limited. Additionally, if players get caught by Giruva it'll unleash an incredibly powerful attack, so be sure to stay alert and exercise caution. If players destroy all the Giruva Cores on the field, they will have a chance to counterattack, so beware!

In addition, new Ruinus boss enemies are waiting for players in the final area; Ruine Vibras, with its large horns, and Ruine Exegul, which manipulates gravity. To help against these powerful enemies, a new 10-star Rarity weapon series called Xover will be introduced. Weapons from the Xover series not only restore HP when you use Photon Blasts, but also possess three different Potentials depending on the weapon type. Multi-weaponize them and find the best combination that suits your play style. In addition to this, Growthment II and LC-type Augment Capsules will drop in the updated Leciel Exploration.

In conjunction with the Leciel Exploration update, All-Ship Matchmaking will be available, which will allow you to be matched with ARKS from other Ships. By enabling All-Ship Matchmaking under Matchmaking Word Settings, players can play Leciel Exploration with ARKS from different Ships. In All-Ship Matchmaking, any Meseta or items obtained within the quest will be acquired as if they were obtained on your normal Ship. By enabling All-Ship Matchmaking, players will not be able to utilize Alliance or friend features specific to their Ship. Additionally, features such as Urgent Quest notifications and Live Boosts will be turned off. At this time, All-Ship Matchmaking will only be available for Leciel Exploration, but the NGS Team plans to gradually expand the list of eligible quests in future updates.

Tech Arts Customization will offer additional PAs and Techniques. This update will include one PA for each weapon type, plus Ice, Thunder, and Dark Techniques. This excludes Wands and Talis weapons.

Major Target Suppression Mission: Planetcrusher Blitz

The new High-difficulty Quest: Major Target Suppression Mission: Planetcrusher Blitz will be available to play from April 17th. The Dark Falz Dalion that appears in this quest is an extremely powerful Starless that attacks the ARKS together with its clones. As in previous Major Target Suppression Missions, up to four players can participate, and you will fail the quest after a set number of incapacitations. Prep like a top chef and slice and dice this new threat with your friends!

The new 11-star-Rarity Wingard weapon series is a drop for this quest. The Wingard series Potential increases damage to enemies for a set time after hitting them with a Photon Blast. In conjunction with this quest, Major Target Suppression Mission Title Tasks will also be added. Weekly Tasks have also been updated, with the Target Quest changed from Halphia Lake Interception Part II to Planetcrusher Blitz, and a new Task for Planetcrusher Blitz from NPC Leah May. We dare you to complete them all!

Sweet New Build Parts

Starting April 17th, an assortment of sweets-themed furniture and retro furniture will be added to Build Parts so players can spice up their Creative Space or Alliance Space.

Parkour Master Trainia

If you've been climbing the walls this winter, we've got the perfect ARKS Records for you! It's for the Parkour Master Trainia for Solo and All Classes. Put on some grippy shoes and go for the high score!

With the new graphics engine comes enhanced character models. In addition to the features present in the current character creation system, you'll now have even more detailed options, like changing the luster of your character's skin. Characters will also be able to move their fingers now! Furthermore, you'll be able to wear more accessories—as well as change their locations—creating even more customized characters. Because PSO2: NGS's character creation system is compatible with that of PSO2, players are free to decide which one they want to use.

Finally, PSO2's core graphics engine will also be overhauled, allowing you to use characters created with PSO2: NGS's system within PSO2 as well. Naturally, ALL character creation info from PSO2 (including items linked to emotes and other previously registered data) will be compatible with PSO2: NGS!

Because PSO2: NGS and PSO2 will have different game systems, some of their respective elements will be incompatible. The following points will summarize what we can announce at this time.

Key Features:

• Free to play!
• Huge wide-open battlefield environments! Explore a whole new world featuring broad, expansive playfields filled with ferocious enemies waiting for you and your team. Traverse wide-open environments, speed and soar across the giant landscape and skies with new special abilities. Transitioning into a new area is as simple as walking into it -- no loading screens.
• Enhanced character models! Create your identity with any character you can imagine in PSO2:NGS using the powerful creation engine. Adjust every imaginable characteristic to create your one-of-a-kind avatar.
• Redesigned graphics engine! Witness lush environments, amazingly detailed player characters, and monstrous foes in razor-sharp resolution. Watch spectacular new lighting and particle effects as weapons clash with armor. See the world as you've never seen it before.
• New multi-weapon system and abilities! Combine 2 types of weapons for smoother weapon switching. Battle at lightning speed using a variety of weapons and techniques.
• Connects with PSO2! Move easily in-game between PSO2:NGS and PSO2.
• Cross-platform! PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 players can play together side by side.

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is available for PS4, Xbox One (will support Xbox Series X|S in the future) and PC with cross-platform play.