Phantasy Star Online 2's North American Open Beta Starts Next Week

Phantasy Star Online 2 is inching its way closer to a Western release, and starting on Tuesday, March 17, folks with an Xbox One will have a chance to play Sega's pined after MMORPG sequel. That's the day when the North American open beta test for PSO2 kicks off on the Xbox.

Sega promises that it'll have more information on the testing period at its official website soon, which could include information on whether the beta will come to the PC. PSO2 is set to launch for Western audiences on the Xbox One and PC this spring, but Microsoft's Phil Spencer has confirmed that it's also coming to "all platforms" at a later date. In Japan, PSO2 is available for the PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch via a streamable version.

Microsoft and Sega announced that Phantasy Star Online would finally make its way to Western players back at E3 2019. PSO2 launched in Japan back in 2012, and hasn't been localized for any other regions since.

PSO2 will be free-to-play on Xbox One, but it'll also require an Xbox Live Gold subscription in order to play. The Xbox One version will also include keyboard and mouse support. During the closed beta, players noticed that the manual had instructions for launching PSO2 from Steam, so it's possible the PC release may be available through Valve's platform and not just the Microsoft Store.

Our Reviews Editor Mike Williams had some hands-on time with PSO2's closed beta last month. "Phantasy Star Online 2 is damned fun, and I'm glad we can finally experience it here in the West, but it's time for Sega to cast off the past," Mike writes. "We need a Phantasy Star Online 3, one built on current technology, aimed at another 8-10 years of operation."

For more on Phantasy Star Online 2, check out our guide to everything we've learned about its Western release so far.