Phantasy Star Online 2 is to receive a PS4 version, Sega announced has announced. But before Western Phantasy Star fans get too excited, so far it’s only confirmed for release in Japan.

During the ARCS Festival 2015 in Tokyo over the weekend, Sega also announced a major content update - Reborn: Episode 4 - for the MMO, which also has PC and PlayStation Vita versions in its homeland.

The PS4 version of the game is expected to launch sometime during 2016, the publisher confirmed. A playable demo of the game will be made available to play for attendees of this year’s Tokyo Game Show.

Originally released back in 2012, Phantasy Star Online 2 is the free-to-play follow-up to the original console MMO, which first debuted on Sega’s ill-fated Dremacast console back in 2001, before later being made available on pc, Nintendo’s GameCube and the original Xbox. The first game in the series managed to accrue a passionate fanbase, despite a fragmented approach to regional updates by Sega which left the Western trailing behind when it came to new gameplay content.

In the game, players create a character from one of a number of races, before picking a specialist class. Much like Final Fantasy XIV, characters are free to switch between classes at will from the game’s lobby. Gameplay is much more action-oriented when compared to many other MMOs, with questing essentially taking the form of working your way through a series of combat encounters in sprawling dungeons.

Sega had previously announced its intention to release Phantasy Star Online 2 in the West back in 2012, touting a release date of Early 2013. However, the game is now offcially delayed until further notice, raising doubts that will ever see a release outside of Japan. Hopes remain high among fans that it will eventually make its way overseas, which were further bolstered when Sega issued a post-launch patch adding English language support.

Have a gander at the game in the video below, to get an idea of why fans continue to call for a Western release.

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Dale Morgan

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When Dale isn't crying over his keyboard about his never-ending workload, he's playing games - lots of them. Dale has a particular love for RPGs, Roguelikes and Metroidvanias.

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