2000+ hours on JP, give me some reasons to play here.

[askasys]

I'm a PSO2 player since the closed beta.
Looking forward for New Genesis in 2021.

Steam is my favourite and main platform, and I'm happy to see my favourite mmorpg here.
I'm sad I can't just login with my pso2 account, so I need reasons to play here.

- I'm scared about possible censorship.
- I'm scared about the possible end of service before the JP version.
- I'm sad this version is still not global after all, I want to play with japanese friends.
- Not interested in Valve exclusive cosmetics.

Questions:
- What about New Genesis? There will be a Steam version at day one?
- Can I select japanese voices and english subtitles?
- What kind of account is required to play?

[Aumires]

- Can I select japanese voices and english subtitles?

Yes

[DarkBlazter]

- I'm scared about possible censorship.
the only censorship at the moment is the size cap, the smallest character size in NA is 150 vs 135 in JP, and they changed Darkers to Falspawn

- I'm scared about the possible end of service before the JP version.
SEGA said PSO2 and PSO2NG will be available at the same time with crossworld character (and some features too), so it's plausible they release PSO2NG at the same time, and end PSO2 support at the same time JP and NA.

- I'm sad this version is still not global after all, I want to play with japanese friends.
Sadly this version is the North America Server and don't have any conection with the Japan Server (i'm a player from the Japan Server since the release 8 years ago with 9k+ hours played, i know your feel)

- Not interested in Valve exclusive cosmetics.
The NA server still without a lot of cosmetics vs the JP, it's very plausible your desired costume isn't released yet, but they are adding all in waves (including colabs, like konosuba)

- What about New Genesis? There will be a Steam version at day one?
No Official News yet, i think they will release PSO2NG in First Quarter of 2021, maybe in the same launcher, maybe in other, since the PSO2 NA Server update roadmap ends in the Fourth Quarter of 2020, adding EP6 and all the story and features.

- Can I select japanese voices and english subtitles?
Yes, the game have English and Japanese voices and subtitles

- What kind of account is required to play?
in the MS Store version Microsoft Account (AKA. Hotmail or Outlook email), it's very possible in the Steam Version too

[Karnage]

Since no one has touched on this, the reason you would want to play PSO2 NA is if you're planning on playing PSO2 NGS NA. Why? Because you'll be able to transfer just about everything from PSO2 NA to PSO2 NGS NA aside for stuff like currency and levels. Weapons, mags, emotes, etc. will all be transferable.

[Moon Rabbit]

Originally posted by Eazydzzz:

Originally posted by DarkBlazter:

- I'm scared about possible censorship.
the only censorship at the moment is the size cap, the smallest character size in NA is 150 vs 135 in JP (No Lolis Allowed)

The fact that you are so open about your pedophilia is very disturbing. Get help.

I don't know how you took what they wrote and interpreted it as a complaint. They simply listed the closest thing that comes to censorship.

[kik]

Originally posted by Eazydzzz:

Originally posted by DarkBlazter:

- I'm scared about possible censorship.
the only censorship at the moment is the size cap, the smallest character size in NA is 150 vs 135 in JP (No Lolis Allowed)

The fact that you are so open about your pedophilia is very disturbing. Get help.

The fact you are unable to find the different between real and fictional world is even more disturbing. I absolutely detest people that like to limit or censor contents that already there in the first place.

[gato]

SEGA was very deliberate with their wording when they announced NGS release platforms.

https://pso2.com/news/announcements/pso2ngsannouncement

Originally posted by SEGA:

⬧ Available Platforms

Planned for release on Windows 10, Xbox One.

Note: If PSO2 is added to new platforms, we plan to make PSO2: NGS available on those platforms as well.

It sounds like Steam will get it to me.

That said, if you are already playing on JP I wouldn't see any reason to come over here unless you want to relieve some old content that you can't play anymore (like old EQs and the like) and that one is running out fast since this server is on a MAD rush to catch up to the original release.

[BiggieTheDog]

Don't just stick with what you have.

[Tenshi Noyo Senshi]

You could just play both. And if you prefer one over the other, could stick with that for a while.

That said, chances are good the NA version won't last as long as the JP version. All previous Phantasy Star games with online features were killed off in NA long before the JP versions, and NA support for those games were famously far behind the JP versions.

From what I've heard from various Windows Store NA players, it's already pretty disparate between the versions, despite promises very early on that the NA release would be completely up to date with the JP version. Story content-wise, NA is only going to release Episode 4 content soon, whereas JP is up in Episode 6 currently. And there's many other missing features, functionality, and content, though there's also NA-exclusive content, on the other hand.

So if you go into the NA version, I wouldn't expect as much, but it may be more enjoyable to play with the NA community. Or not.

[ReticentLily]

Originally posted by Tenshi Noyo Senshi:

From what I've heard from various Windows Store NA players, it's already pretty disparate between the versions, despite promises very early on that the NA release would be completely up to date with the JP version. Story content-wise, NA is only going to release Episode 4 content soon, whereas JP is up in Episode 6 currently. And there's many other missing features, functionality, and content, though there's also NA-exclusive content, on the other hand.

We have a roadmap for content releases. https://pso2.com/news/announcements/roadmap

Episode 6 part 1 will be out by the end of the year. Part 2 is presumably following shortly after.

[Tenshi Noyo Senshi]

Originally posted by ReticentLily:

Originally posted by Tenshi Noyo Senshi:

From what I've heard from various Windows Store NA players, it's already pretty disparate between the versions, despite promises very early on that the NA release would be completely up to date with the JP version. Story content-wise, NA is only going to release Episode 4 content soon, whereas JP is up in Episode 6 currently. And there's many other missing features, functionality, and content, though there's also NA-exclusive content, on the other hand.

We have a roadmap for content releases. https://pso2.com/news/announcements/roadmap

Episode 6 part 1 will be out by the end of the year. Part 2 is presumably following shortly after.

We'll see.

The way the NA release has been handled so far hasn't particularly impressed me, though maybe the Steam release will provide a smoother experience for people. The dwindling numbers from the Windows Store playerbase hasn't filled me with much confidence either, but, again, the release on Steam could potentially change that, at least for the short term.

Then again, now that the kinda-sequel has been announced and is coming sooner than later, people may decide to hold out and wait for that.

[Gearlis]

Originally posted by Tenshi Noyo Senshi:

From what I've heard from various Windows Store NA players, it's already pretty disparate between the versions, despite promises very early on that the NA release would be completely up to date with the JP version. Story content-wise, NA is only going to release Episode 4 content soon, whereas JP is up in Episode 6 currently. And there's many other missing features, functionality, and content, though there's also NA-exclusive content, on the other hand.

So if you go into the NA version, I wouldn't expect as much, but it may be more enjoyable to play with the NA community. Or not.

I mean... we are going to be on-par with the JP version by early 2021 at least. The NA version is actually running the Episode 6 client with content gated to earlier content that is being unlocked. They posted a roadmap on the website showing that we'll be on Episode 6 (Part 1 - with Phantom) by at least November-December.

[DarkBlazter]

Originally posted by Tenshi Noyo Senshi:

And there's many other missing features, functionality, and content, though there's also NA-exclusive content, on the other hand.

For example, two of the na-exclusive features are in-game voice chat, and a bigger sg deals store (you even can buy costume sets with SG, not only make a scratch with luck)

[Tenshi Noyo Senshi]

Originally posted by Leon_kh:

Originally posted by Tenshi Noyo Senshi:

From what I've heard from various Windows Store NA players, it's already pretty disparate between the versions, despite promises very early on that the NA release would be completely up to date with the JP version. Story content-wise, NA is only going to release Episode 4 content soon, whereas JP is up in Episode 6 currently. And there's many other missing features, functionality, and content, though there's also NA-exclusive content, on the other hand.

So if you go into the NA version, I wouldn't expect as much, but it may be more enjoyable to play with the NA community. Or not.

I mean... we are going to be on-par with the JP version by early 2021 at least. The NA version is actually running the Episode 6 client with content gated to earlier content that is being unlocked. They posted a roadmap on the website showing that we'll be on Episode 6 (Part 1 - with Phantom) by at least November-December.

New Genesis is also coming in 2021, and I'm already hearing some NA players talk about waiting to play that instead, so I'm not sure that PSO2 NA proper will get back whatever it loses to its connected kinda-sequel sibling. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if New Genesis was the reason Microsoft got involved in the first place, with original PSO2 being their lead-up to it, as it's been many many years since the game originally came out.

While there's some crossover features between the two, I believe progress in leveling isn't shared, so some or more players may not see the point in playing an older game when they can skip right to the new one.

[Karnage]

Originally posted by Tenshi Noyo Senshi:

Originally posted by Leon_kh:

I mean... we are going to be on-par with the JP version by early 2021 at least. The NA version is actually running the Episode 6 client with content gated to earlier content that is being unlocked. They posted a roadmap on the website showing that we'll be on Episode 6 (Part 1 - with Phantom) by at least November-December.

New Genesis is also coming in 2021, and I'm already hearing some NA players talk about waiting to play that instead, so I'm not sure that PSO2 NA proper will get back whatever it loses to its connected kinda-sequel sibling. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if New Genesis was the reason Microsoft got involved in the first place, with original PSO2 being their lead-up to it, as it's been many many years since the game originally came out.

While there's some crossover features between the two, I believe progress in leveling isn't shared, so some or more players may not see the point in playing an older game when they can skip right to the new one.

You'll be able to transfer just about everything from PSO2 NA to PSO2 NGS NA aside for stuff like currency and levels. Weapons, mags, emotes, etc. will all be transferable.

[Moon Rabbit]

Originally posted by Tenshi Noyo Senshi:

Originally posted by ReticentLily:

We have a roadmap for content releases. https://pso2.com/news/announcements/roadmap

Episode 6 part 1 will be out by the end of the year. Part 2 is presumably following shortly after.

We'll see.

The way the NA release has been handled so far hasn't particularly impressed me, though maybe the Steam release will provide a smoother experience for people. The dwindling numbers from the Windows Store playerbase hasn't filled me with much confidence either, but, again, the release on Steam could potentially change that, at least for the short term.

Then again, now that the kinda-sequel has been announced and is coming sooner than later, people may decide to hold out and wait for that.

To be fair, you clearly haven't paid much attention to it. So I can hardly imagine why you'd be impressed. And I'd love to see your source on numbers at all, let alone if they are dwindling. Every game launch spikes and then levels out in the coming months.