Important Information Regarding PC/PS2 Servers - Please Read

[Edward@Sega]

Attention Phantasy Star Universe players,

We regret to announce that the PC and PlayStation2 servers for Phantasy Star Universe will be closing as of this March 31st, 2010.

SEGA would like to extend its sincere thanks to those who have played on the PC/PS2 servers over the past several years. The final update for PC/PS2 servers will be this January 29th, 2010, which will start the long-awaited MAG+ event. This event will receive the same updates & web support as the event on the Xbox 360 servers.

Please note that after January 29th 2010, no new PSU subscriptions will be available for purchase for PC/PS2. Those who are subscribed as of that time will be able to play, for free, until service closure.

The schedule is as follows:

• January 29th 2010: MAG+ event begins for PC/PS2 and Xbox 360 servers.

• January 29th 2010: No new PC/PS2 PSU subscriptions will be available for purchase.

• January 29th 2010: Free play for PC/PS2 PSU begins. No more billing cycles will take place on or after this date.

• March 31st 2010: PC/PS2 servers / service closure, the PlayStation2 and PC versions of Phantasy Star Universe online play will not be available after this date, however, please continue to enjoy the Single Player version of the game.

To clarify, anyone who has had a valid PC/PS2 account (and has not been banned) will be able to play during this period.

For those who play the Xbox 360 version of Phantasy Star Universe: SEGA will continue to support, in full & with regular updates, this version of Phantasy Star Universe. This includes bringing currently unreleased and anticipated content to the XBox 360 servers. We will be able to provide more details on future Xbox 360 PSU content over the coming weeks and months.

While we are sad to see the PC/PS2 version of Phantasy Star Universe end, the year 2010 is the 10th anniversary of Phantasy Star Online -- and this server / service closure is helping to pave the way for bigger and better things for the Phantasy Star franchise in the very near future!

Thank you all again for the support and great times together with us here at SEGA playing PSU! We look forward to seeing you again in our new adventures!

[Edward@Sega]

Hello, GUARDIANS ---

I want to follow up this official message with a personal message to everyone here.

I realize for this comes as a blow. It saddens me, as well – I’m sentimental, and I’ve always considered my PC/PS2 characters my “home” for the game. I’ve been a dedicated PC gamer for well over 20 years, and I’ve loved playing PSU on the PC; to me, it’s always been the platform that felt the most natural for the game – it’s also where I first learned and explored the game.

While the population of PC/PS2 has never been as large as on the Xbox 360 version, I always appreciated the intimacy & tight-knit nature of the groups that played there. I have fond memories of my first GM Support Sessions, on Paracabana Coast, sitting in the sand with a few dozen players & chatting pleasantly about everything to do with the game. You are a witty, savvy, and dedicated bunch of players – I say that with the utmost gratitude for how pleasant you’ve made my job here at SEGA.

If you’ve played on PC/PS2 recently, you also likely know why we are shutting these servers down. The population is simply too low for us to be able to continue to support this platform. I will answer any questions you have about this closure to the best of my ability, but please understand I cannot speak to business/financial decisions or details.

While sad, this is also a huge opportunity for the Xbox 360 version of the game. Players here are well aware that the Western version of the game has fallen behind the content schedule for the Japanese version of the game, but in focusing our resources on just a single version now, we do have the chance to actually close that gap. There’s content on the Japanese version that we all really want to see, and have been vocal about wanting to see – content that I’m extremely excited about as well – which we will be bringing here. I will, naturally, be able to provide more details as they become public & available.

With the unreleased content still coming here, PSU still has a lot of room to grow & change, and that’s exciting for me, as a GM and as a player. Seeing PC/PS2 close is going to be difficult for all of us who have invested our time & energy into our characters there. Seeing new life for this game through Xbox 360, however, is a big positive, in my opinion.

I want to keep this thread open for all discussion of the PC/PS2 shutdown, PSU, or anything else relevant – of course it’s okay if you’re upset & want to post that, but I ask that you keep your posts constructive and within the rules of the forum. I want us to be able to discuss this here for as long as we need to.

Post your thoughts, post your questions, post your fond memories of PC/PS2 – and keep in mind, PC/PS2 still has MAG+ left, and I truly look forward to seeing you all there!

[AC_Messiah]

Ouch. Come on over to Xbox guys, we'll help you get started out. come before Mag, that way you can be levelled up!

Originally Posted by Edward@Sega

While sad, this is also a huge opportunity for the Xbox 360 version of the game. Players here are well aware that the Western version of the game has fallen behind the content schedule for the Japanese version of the game, but in focusing our resources on just a single version now, we do have the chance to actually close that gap.

That will be really good. Bi-weekly updates me hopes!

[Amaury25]

Aw, man. I don't think we can afford an Xbox 360, plus the game, plus the original game, plus Ambition of the Illuminus' download. That, and I'd have to start all over.

Maybe there could be a way to put Episode 3 offline so we could enjoy the EP 3 partner cards and what we would have gotten from the supplemental update.

Also, maybe we could make a petition; if enough people sign it, maybe we could save the servers. I suspect that Maximum Attack G+ will bring a lot of players back. Maybe that will also save the servers.

This is just sad.

[Powder_Keg]

Ouch!

[monster_man_dan]

Sorry to hear this everyone.
As Amaury has pointed out - it is expensive if you do not own a 360 - but hopefully you will all come over to the 360 side if you can!

[fay]

I agree you should all come over to the 360 servers if you own one.

I'm glad about it in a way because that means our server will be getting full attention of SEGA. That doesn't mean I don't feel for the rest of you. I would be rather ****ed off too but as they say. All good things must come to an end.

[gp]

It was only a matter of time..... come to the 360 guys theres at least another 18 months before our server shutdown.

1% of accounts still play!!!!

[Powder_Keg]

I suppose it's completely impossible to import character data from the closing server, correct?

[hyperacute]

Hmmm, it was bound to happen eventually. Especially with the active population so low.