December’s update for Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (PSO2:NGS) looks like it’s shaping up to be one of the most player-friendly updates the game has seen to date. With increases to XP, some streamlining of gear, and a host of updates to the Creative Space, there’s a lot for new and returning players to get excited about. We were able to pass along some questions to Series Producer Yuya Kimura, who has been working with SEGA for the past 15 years, including on multiple Phantasy Star series. Here’s what he had to say about the updates and where PSO2:NGS is headed.
MMORPG: Phantasy Star Online New Genesis is reaching the two-and-a-half-year mark, and during that time there has been a wealth of content added. How has the game evolved over the last two and a half years?
Kimura-san: Since the initial launch of NGS, we have significantly expanded the game’s content and features. What began with just one region and a single chapter in the story has grown over the past two-and-a-half years to encompass four regions and six captivating story chapters, offering a substantial increase in volume. Furthermore, we have introduced four new classes, bringing the total to 10 classes and a diverse array of 18 categories of weapon types. This expansion has greatly broadened the range of playstyles available to our players. To enhance gameplay variety, we have been regularly releasing new quests, with approximately one new quest introduced every 1 to 2 weeks. Moreover, our June update, ver. 2, introduced exciting non-combat features, including the Creative Space, which has empowered players to freely create and design their own unique spaces. Additionally, the implementation of Portable Holograms offers a fresh communication tool to connect with other players. Character creation has continued to evolve, with players able to select Cel Shading as an option from ver. 2. This feature gives characters an anime-like appearance.
.jpg)
MMORPG: PSO2: NGS can certainly be intimidating for new players. New zones have opened up across Halpha and the story can be quite daunting, with moments where the pacing of story quests slows due to having to raise your battle power. How is the December Update helping with that?
Kimura-san: The removal of Battle Power as a requirement for Story Quests with the ver. 2 update in June has, I believe, ensured that insufficient Battle Power no longer impedes game progression. Furthermore, starting in October, Combat Sectors featuring enemies up to level 70 now permanently feature an EXP Earned +300% boost, making it significantly easier to level up.
Additionally, the December update introduced a variety of improvements to enhance the gameplay experience. Some Story Quests have been adjusted to reduce the strength of enemies, Augment availability during the story has been increased to facilitate Battle Power growth, and reaching level 65 now rewards players with 9-star weapons.
MMORPG: While the new update is stated as helping new and returning players catch up, will the update also help current players level up multiple classes on their current character?
Kimura-san: Yes, the December update brought significant improvements to the leveling experience for Sub-Classes. Previously, Sub-Classes only received 50% of the EXP gained by the Main Class. However, with the update, Sub-Classes can now acquire up to 90% of this EXP, making it much easier to level up multiple classes simultaneously.
MMORPG: As a PSO2 fan, one thing that’s been difficult to manage has been the inventory system. There are so many items to keep track of and even after expanding your inventory space, it feels like it’s never enough. Are there any plans to help players manage their inventory, or any tips players might not know about to help manage their space?
Kimura-san: The development team is committed to addressing the ongoing challenge of inventory and Storage management as the number and variety of items continue to expand with updates. In the upcoming December update, we are implementing a solution to alleviate the pressure on inventory and Storage caused by items such as the Gold Primm Sword II and Gold Primm Armor II.
These items, which have contributed to Storage concerns, will now be exchangeable for the Augment Capsule C/Endymio. Furthermore, to offer more flexibility in item management, players will have the option to exchange C/Endymio back for the Gold Primm Sword II and Gold Primm Armor II. This allows for temporary compression of these items into C/Endymio, making it easier to organize and store them when they are not immediately needed.
MMORPG: The Creative Space system has been a major addition to NGS, and there are a lot of unique ways to build homes and even some mini-games. Are there any new features headed to the Creative Space in the next update and where do you see Creative Space headed in the future?
Kimura-san: The December update will introduce an optional feature that allows the shapes of Build Parts to be projected onto walls or the ground when placing/moving them. This visual guide makes it easier to determine their precise location and is especially beneficial when placing Build Parts in mid-air.
Additionally, it will be possible to extend editing privileges in Alliance Spaces to both Members and Provisionals. These changes stem from our policy of actively listening to player feedback and prioritizing the expansion and improvement of features whenever possible. We will also continue to release new styles of Build Parts as soon as we can.
MMORPG: PSO2 has been well known for the great collaborations between SEGA properties along with other popular properties across gaming and anime – what has your strategy been for selecting these collaborations and are there any upcoming collaborations that you can tell us about that you’re looking forward to?
Kimura-san: Our primary objective is to ensure the satisfaction of our existing players, and we have devoted careful consideration to selecting collaborations that align well with the preferences and interests of the community. Additionally, each collaboration is strategically planned with the aim of not only capturing the attention of current players but also enticing players to return and attracting new users to the game.
