Phantasy Star Online 2

Phantasy Star Online 2 builds on the pioneering online series from the Dreamcast era and expands its formula with more modern technology, a larger world, and deeper character customization. Players create their own avatars, choose from several classes (sword fighter, gunner, mage, and combinations thereof), and complete missions in parties of up to four players across several planets and varied environments, from deserts to ice fields and space stations. The game relies on fast action combat with heavy emphasis on mobility and attack combos, regularly updated content, seasonal events, and an extensive system of cosmetic items, through which Sega has long funded the running of this free-to-play game.

The Xbox One version was significant in a different way than the PlayStation 4 one - it was the flagship platform for the game's first official global release outside Japan, meaning the very first opportunity for English-speaking players to try Phantasy Star Online 2 legally and with full English localization of text and menus, without having to work around the game's Japanese region. The release happened simultaneously with the global PC version via the Microsoft Store, which at the time led to a linked account and the ability to play across both Microsoft platforms in the same parties (crossplay), while the Japanese PC and PS4 community remained separate, playing on different servers with a different update pace. Gamepad controls and the adjusted interface were similar to the later PS4 version, but the Xbox One edition had an edge in the form of early integration of the console's voice chat and party system, making it easier to arrange group expeditions with friends outside the game itself. In terms of content, it matched the current state of the Japanese game at the time of release, albeit with a delay of several years compared to the original and with the need to catch up on years of older content through accelerated in-game campaigns and bonus rewards for new players, who therefore didn't have to go through the same slow progression as Japanese players had years earlier.

Why play it: For English-speaking players who wanted to try Phantasy Star Online 2 legally and with full localization for the first time, Xbox One was the flagship platform of the global release, with crossplay against PC.