Why the slight name change, you might be asking? Well, SEGA has confirmed that the game is the same PSO2 that has previously been released in Japan (and some other parts of Asia) on PC, PS Vita and PS4, but the Switch version will be running via the cloud. So rather than downloading the game to the device, you will stream it from servers.

Plus, along with the announcement (via Nintendo Direct, see video above) Switch players will also have access to exclusive Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild content, including playing as Link and, by the looks of it, Zelda too!

That’s great news for PSO fans in Japan. The bad news is that there’s still no sign of PSO2 getting a Western release… although SEGA still hasn’t said it’s not happening, just “delayed” – so we’re going to keep on hoping!

To celebrate, SEGA will be hosting a “PS Vita Version 1.5 Million Download Commemoration Campaign” later in the month. Full details will be explained on the official website on a later date.

As for the west, we are still waiting on any news of a North American/European release on PSO2. We live in such sad times.

via Gematsu

The News Stand

• A Fake PSO2 Twitter sends hype; SEGA intervenes
• Dreamcast indie dev, Orion, to stop making games professionally
• Sonic & SEGA All Stars Soccer and Brawl concept art has been dug up

Trivia Block

• Each Nerdcast we are going to test your SEGA knowledge with a trivia question. But this isn’t just for fun – we are giving you a chance to win a free issue of Mega Visions Magazine! All you have to do is answer the question and then email or DM us on Twitter with your answer.
• Congrats to last week’s winner, Will Sisson, who correctly guessed last week’s trivia question. Will won a free issue of Mega Visions Magazine and a copy of Vanquish on PC!
• Here’s this week’s Trivia Block clue: In this game, you play as one of two cavemen in search for their girlfriends. You need to find weapons, such as clubs, to take out your pre-historic enemies.
• Email us with your answer and your Name to: seganerds@gmail.com OR DM us on Twitter, with your answer to: @seganerds!

E3 Discussion

• What could SEGA announce at E3 that’d make you go wild?

https://twitter.com/PSO2_na/status/872148576851210240

Many people started believing this and asked what systems it was going to be on, to which they replied.

https://twitter.com/PSO2_na/status/872162601727270912

With all this hype, many people finally had hope that after 5 years of waiting, this dream would finally come true. However, SEGA had to step in and address the situation.

This is not an official account and the information isn't accurate. We have no updates on PSO2 at this time. https://t.co/ptrdX45phF

— SEGA (@SEGA) June 6, 2017

They wanted to make it very clear that there is no new information about a western release for PSO2 and basically debunked the Twitter account. We should have known that it was a fake because one of the consoles they said was the PS Vita of all consoles.

The wait still continues for SEGA to officially announce a PSO2 release date.

The setlist is the following:

• “Prologue”
• “The element of Courage” – Tachibana Juri (Aoi Shota)
• “Prism Moment” – Kiyoshi Izumi Rina (Ayaka Suwa)
• “Auditor Pride” – Aika (M · A · O )
• “Judgment core to be drilled in the main time” – Chino Kota
• “Longing everyday” – Konoe Mika
• “Coquettish syndrome” – Silva (Nitta Megumi)
• “Epilogue”

※ song order may vary

Sonic Lobby will reappear on Late June, including special music from Sonic Adventure and the collect rings event as part of Sonic’s 25th Anniversary celebrations. The Sakura Taisen 20th Anniversary collab will include costumes, weapons, and Kobus.

While the Final Fantasy XIV collab will arrive this July, SEGA will reveal more details about this on June 19. In the meantime SEGA unveiled a video of how the collab looks:

The stream ended with merchandise announcements and a twitter campaign for Japanese users to win a special edition PSO2 hoodie:

Phantasy Star Online is celebrating 15 years of existence, while Sakura Wars is going for its 20th Anniversary this 2016.

The second CharaGumin release from the SEGA online RPG game “Phantasy Star Online 2” is the super seductive HUnewearl!
After the previous and still on sale FOnewearl, this figure is made based on an offical SEGA illustration and under the thorough supervision of the game development team!
In addition to the thorough reproduction of the high-naked “Neighbor Quartz” costume,it is possible to replace the Twin Daggers standard equipment by the Lambda Legzaga option equipment.
Arks fellows, get the CharaGumin HUnewearl figure!!

Charagumins are a special Volks Inc line that are basically big gashapon-like figures / model kits, you assemble them, almost ready to go. But don’t worry if you are not an expert in painting, fortunately Charagumin makes the plastic parts already on the color they should be, so you just have to assemble and paint small details, they even come with a set of eyes so you can use the face looking to where you want to (we did a full tutorial on how to assemble the Puyo Puyo Charagumins over here and a review over here). If you wish to now more about other SEGA Charagumins jump over to this link.

VOLKS INC.

Being the event’s organizer, Volks Inc., showcased its Charagumin lineup, which included PSO2 FONEwearl and Hunewearl model kits (see our previous Charagumin guide here), plus and a White version Valkyria Chronicles Selvaria.

Volks will be one of Puyo Puyo’s 25th Anniversary partners, so they went wild with their announcements on this IP, as we previously reported, an Arle Nadja mini Dollfie Doll was unveiled to the public at the event, with an expensive 56,000 yen price, the puyo-volks booth also showcased its Charagumin lineup and Schweiss card games.

WAVE

GSC model kit partner, Wave, gave more details for their upcoming SEGA Astro City 1:12 scale model kits. These will be released on July 2016 with a price of 3,200 yen (excluding tax), preorders will start very soon (this month, May). Exchangable card screens will include Dynamite Deka, Virtua Fighter, and Fighting Vipers. These models are compatible with Max Factory’s Figma scale figures.

Plus, Wave will be releasing Border Break 1:35 mecha model kits to be released this July for 39,000 yen.

However, according to SEGA of Europe’s Dan Sheridan in the latest SEGA Central episode, all hope is not lost!

Responding to a question via Twitter on what happened to the game, Sheridan said, “It’s another game we’d love to bring to the West. There are all manner of challenges of localizing such a huge game and ensuring the same quality that’s delivered here (Europe) as it is in Japan.

“We are working behind the scenes on potential solutions, and again cannot definitively say it’s coming, but we’re looking into it.”

While that by no means is a confirmation that we’ll be playing PSO 2 at any point, it’s a heckuva lot better than the standard “It’s delayed, it’s delayed, it’s delayed” response we’ve received from SEGA of America the past several years.

Just knowing the project to get the game released in the West isn’t quite dead gives us some sense of hope. There’s a flicker still there; can you see it?

Phantasy Star Online 2 was originally released in Japan on PC on July 4, 2012, on Vita on Feb. 13, 2013, and on the PlayStation 4 on April 20.