Originally released in 2012 as a Japan-exclusive title, Phantasy Star Online 2 finally made its eagerly awaited North American debut in May 2020 on the Windows and Xbox One platforms.
Now, Sega's MMORPG has a chance to reach an even larger audience when it arrives on Steam on Aug.
5.
Before you dive in, find out if your PC can run the much-anticipated title.
Why the Phantasy Star Online 2 Hype?
Phantasy Star Online 2 is the sequel to the wildly popular and influential Phantasy Star Online.
In it, you play as an ARKS operative, a member of an elite space force tasked with exploring monster-filled planets, and searching for the corrupt Falspawn.
Like most MMORPGs, PSO2 lets you create a character (from four races and nine classes) that you use to explore a vast world filled with exotic locations and strange, dangerous monsters.
The game features many callbacks to the original Sega Genesis Phantasy Star series, as well as references to other popular Sega franchises.
Though eight years old, PSO2 continues to have a large fan base thanks to its addictive gameplay and constant updates.
(Image: Sega)
Phantasy Star Online 2 arrives on Steam the same day as the game's anticipated Episode 4 expansion.
This newest expansion distinguishes itself from previous add-ons by taking place on Earth.
As a result, you can expect new locations, story quests, and enemies.
Episode 4 will also arrive on Windows PC and Xbox One, and feature cross-platform play.
Where to Buy Phantasy Star Online 2?
Phantasy Star Online 2 is a free-to-play Steam game, so you don't need to spend a dime to start adventuring.
It is available via Steam or the Xbox desktop app.
If you're downloading the game for your gaming desktop or gaming laptop, these are the operating systems and components you'll need to run it.
Phantasy Star Online 2's Minimum Specs
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 and above
RAM: 2GB RAM
GPU: Nvidia GeForce 7800GT AMD Radeon HD2900XT
DirectX: Version 9.0
Available Storage: 80GB available space
Phantasy Star Online 2's Recommended Specs
At the time of this writing, Sega hasn't revealed the game's recommended specs.
They shouldn't be particularly high, considering that the game is nearly 10 years old.
Phantasy Star Online 2's Input Support
Phantasy Star Online 2 supports mouse and keyboard setups, as well as partial gamepad support.
Phantasy Star Online 2's DRM Scheme
You’ll need a Windows (or Xbox Live) account to play on Windows (or Xbox One).
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