If you owned a SEGA Dreamcast, then you definitely have some fond memories of SEGA’s last home console. Sonic, Ready 2 Rumble, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and many more games made the console a huge hit among its users, but ultimately was considered a failure in the eyes of SEGA.
One game set the stage for console MMORPGS as it allowed console gamers to play an MMO from the comfort of their living room. It also helped the game was really fun and interacting with other players was simple and very rewarding. That game was Phantasy Star Online and SEGA has officially announced today they’re working on a free-to-play sequel that will first be released on PC, then iOS & Android versions will be released, and then the Vita in 2013.
Phantasy Star Online 2 will be a completely free-to-play game that will require transactions to be made for certain items, which if I were a betting man, meant all of the best weapons, armors, and anything else will only be purchasable. The PS Vita version, which is expected to be released in 2013, will offer cross-platform play with the PC version of the game, which is due to be released early this Summer. This will mark the first free-to-play game that has been announced for the Vita, which hopefully will open the gates for more F2P games to be made available on Sony’s next-gen handheld.
The iOS and Android versions of Phantasy Star Online 2 won’t provide cross-platform play with the PS Vita & PC versions, but will share information with both platforms. SEGA says we can expect the iOS and Android versions of Phantasy Star Online 2 to offer a simpler character creation, control scheme, and will also offer social game elements that will give players a more personal and simpler experience than on the Vita & PC.
[Via Andriasang]