Phantasy Star Online 2 for Xbox One now online and fully operational

After much waiting and playing through betas both closed and open, the free-to-play online action role playing game Phantasy Star Online 2 has officially launched in North America.

Currently, you can download the game to Xbox One on the Microsoft Store. Don’t own an Xbox One? Then worry not, as SEGA has announced that the game will also be released on the PC, also through the Microsoft Store, and the two versions will allow for cross-play. (No word yet on the possible Steam version, however.)

For the North American release of the game, SEGA is boasting fully localized text and English character voices which span three years of content. The original PSO2 story is accompanied by the latest quality-of-life improvements and balancing that the Japanese service have enjoyed. And of course, whatever progress you might have made in the closed and open betas will be carried over.

“Phantasy Star Online 2 changed the history of Online Action RPG’s,” said the PSO2 TEAM Head of Marketing for North America, Fred White. “The sci-fi story, characters, and gameplay has resonated with gamers worldwide and now we’re excited to bring North American players this special game — for free. Our player community is the heart and soul of the game and we couldn’t have done it without their ongoing support and passion. Now that it is officially launched on Xbox One, we look forward to kicking off a fun-filled future of events, collaborations and expansions in the years to come!”

In their press release, SEGA revealed the following surprises for North American players to celebrate the game’s launch:

• • Every day between April 15th-23rd, ARKS Operatives will receive a special log-in bonus when they report for duty! The Half Scape Doll is able to sacrifice itself to revive players automatically if they become incapacitated on the battlefield – a real boost when fighting the Falspawn.
  • ARKS who join an Alliance with at least four members before April 28th will receive a SG20 Ticket (x1). And members of Alliances that have earned at least 5,000 Alliance Points before April 28th will receive the collectable emote #269: Impromptu Tea Party!
  • Two new Urgent Quests: “The Cunning Black Winged Vanguard” & “The False Champion: Luther the Fallen” begin this week.
  • PSO2 Diva, Quna, returns for live concerts on Saturdays and Sundays!
  • The Cherry Blossom season is coming to Phantasy Star Online 2 with a new look to the renowned Franca’s Café! Certain ARKS Ship lobbies will also change their appearances periodically.
  • PSO2 is one of the first games to be included in Microsoft’s new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks program! All PSO2 players with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription will receive extra special goodies after their first log in, including an Xbox jacket and Xbox Controller accessory for their character to show off in-game. Additional Perks will be made available every month, such as bonus Half Scape Dolls and more.

• The ever-expanding catalog of outfits and accessories to collect and mix-and-match continues to grow with the introduction of the Heroic Wanderer AC Scratch Ticket.

SEGA promises this is just the beginning of what’s to come for ARKS in 2020. To keep plugged in, you’ll want to be sure to check the official Phantasy Star Online 2 website and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

And if you’re only just getting started (or waiting for the PC version), be sure to take a look at the primer we put together for the closed beta to get an idea of what your options are before you jump in.