Phantasy Star Online was released on the GameCube decades ago, but it wasn’t the best experience for many gamers. The game didn’t have as good as a response as it did in other countries.
Phantasy Star Online was so popular in other parts of the world that a sequel, PSO 2, was eventually released in 2012. Xbox decided to give the title another chance outside of Asia.
According to the official game summary: “In Phantasy Star Online 2, you are a member of ARKS, a task force dedicated to exploring numerous planets and protecting the universe against a malignant force called the Falspawn. Embark on a never-ending assortment of missions with fellow operatives and experience unparalleled action RPG combat, completely free to play.”
At this year’s E3, it was announced that Phantasy Star Online 2 was headed outside of Asia. Before the game can be released, it has to be beta tested.
The official Xbox website announced that sign-ups for the Phantasy Star Online 2 closed beta test is now open. There are some upfront requirements gamers will have to fulfill before joining.
The closed beta is only available for players in North America and Canada. Players will have to sign-up for the Xbox Insider Program on Windows 10 or Xbox One to secure their spot.
Luckily, signing up for the Insider Hub is a painless process. Players can navigate to the Store or Microsoft Store app and search for “Xbox Insider Hub.” From there, they have to install the program, agree to the Terms of Use, then head to Insider Content. Under the Games category, players simply have to choose Phantasy Star Online 2 and “Join.”
After clicking “Join,” players have to wait until they receive a notice that they’re in via Xbox Live message.
Beta tests are important for MMORPGs before the launch of the game. The developer and publisher want to ensure that gamers won’t have any issues with server stability, ensuring a smooth gameplay experience.
Joining the Closed Beta also comes with some benefits. The news post states that participants will receive “special rewards.” It’s unlikely that characters made during the Closed Beta will roll over into the official release.
Phantasy Star Online 2 is scheduled to be released sometime in 2020. Although the beta test is available on PC and Xbox One, it’s unclear if the game will also be released on PlayStation 4, Vita, and Nintendo Switch like in Japan.