The Retem region is live
I’ve been waiting a long time for this Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis expansion. The game has a lot of potential under the hood with its frantic action system and freeing locomotion; the game just needed more content to sustain itself long term. It just got a ton of it.
As of now, the December content update, which includes said New Genesis expansion, is live. The biggest bit is the new (desert-based) Retem region, which was teased at the end of the original 1.0 campaign, and continues the storyline. It’s a stark contrast to the lush plains and mountains of Aelio, and they did a pretty fantastic job with its design.
Other big changes include additional skills for every class (including the newish Bouncer), on top of an increased level cap from 20 to 35, wind/light/dark elements, new enemies, and enhanced “world trials.” Sega describes them in the new update: “Unlike normal Trials, they will occur over multiple Sectors for an extended period of time. For example, the objective of the World Trial: Stella Grace Recovery Operation is to collect as much of the Stellar Grace that appears in the Exploration Sectors as possible within the time limit to receive rewards.”
This is all happening with a winter event in progress. So if you’ve been a lapsed player, now is the time to dive back in.