Phantasy Star Universe updated on Xbox 360, expansion now free

by Richard Mitchell on Jul 21st 2010 11:00PM

Sega has announced that an update is now available for the Xbox 360 version of Phantasy Star Universe (the PS2 and PC versions are kaput, remember). Entitled "GUARDIANS Advanced Content," the update includes new items, new missions, a new character customization system and tweaks to existing classes and abilities. The update is free for all subscribers and will be applied automatically on login.

Sega also reminded players that the Phantasy Star Universe expansion, Ambitions of the Illuminus, is now available free of charge. Originally costing 800 MSP ($10), the expansion features its own set of additions including new weapons, locations, enemies and more. If you grab the update and the expansion and squint your eyes, you just might be able to trick yourself into thinking it's a real Phantasy Star sequel.

Phantasy Star Universe (Guardians Advanced Content)

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JOIN US FOR THE BIGGEST AND BEST PHANTASY STAR EXPERIENCE EVER

Massive content update patch – AOTI Expansion Pack now FREE for all players - Further PSU updates to be announced in the coming weeks.

(July 21, 2010) – SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced that GUARDIANS Advanced Content is now available for Phantasy Star Universe on Xbox 360™. In addition, the Ambition of the Illuminus Expansion is now available as a free download through Xbox Live™ (a value of 800 MSP). There's never been a better time to get into PSU!

GUARDIANS Advanced Content adds a huge amount of new content to an already massive Universe to explore. This update greatly expands the challenges and fun for new and veteran players. New features and highlights are:

- Tons of new missions

- Countless new weapons and items

- A brand new system to customize your characters

- Classes and abilities have been updated and improved

PSU subscribers won't have to do anything special to get it – the game will be updated automatically next time they'll log in.

Also, to celebrate the release of GUARDIANS Advanced Content, the Ambition of the Illuminus expansion pack is now free! The AOTI Expansion adds tons of content to the original Phantasy Star Universe and features countless missions, story content, weapons, clothing, updates to player rooms, and other features. In addition to new enemies, weapons, levels and cities there will be more options available for gamers to further individualize and customize the look of their characters. Ambition of the Illuminus continues the exciting PSU story online as the player's character is now the central protagonist, investigating and working to restore peace in the chaotic Gurhal System.

Phantasy Star has been Sega's signature RPG series and a favorite of fans for 19 years. Of those games, 2000's Phantasy Star Online saw particularly enormous popularity as the first network RPG for home consoles, and received the top prize from the 5th annual Japan Entertainment Software Awards. Over the past years, PSO has been brought to various consoles and today is still enjoyed by countless users. Combining the story elements of Phantasy Star and five years of network-RPG experience from Phantasy Star Online, the fully-loaded Action RPG Phantasy Star Universe was born!

For more info about GUARDIANS Advanced Content, and the PSU series in general, please check out the official PSU website: http://phantasystaruniverse.com/

Tags: microsoft, phantasy-star-universe, Sega, Sonic-Team, xbox

Reader Comments (36)

I remember buying the DLC for the 800, fully expecting it to be available offline.

The expac was a lie.

@Mama Luigi: The description said that it was online only. That's why it cost half the price of the PC and PS2 versions. I would have preferred offline, too, but no one ripped you off.

I'm actually pondering getting back in now that the expansion is free. I had a really good time with Phantasy Star Portable, and now I'm jonesing for a new fix. The online fee sucks, but to their credit, they have been releasing new content on a regular basis.

I know it was my own fault, I had played the PS2 version and was like "Wow! What a steal!" and purchased it without reading the description considering I expected it to be fully like the other version.

@Mama Luigi I purchased a bottle of detergent that was a steal but haven't read the label yet. I think I'll drink a few cups tonight. Hope it's tasty because reading is tough.

If only this game didn't require an additional fee to play online.

@poopdedoop

exactly. what they should do is even if there is a $10 fee, is make the whole game available for free on Games On Demand. that way at least you only have to pay for service (if you could call it service).

at least you can play this game online with a silver account.

@poopdedoop
Fee's are now to be expected with most purchases and normally with logical justifications as to were your money is going towards. It's up to the person although to let $10 dollars bother them enough to miss out on a purchase.

If my 10$ is what pays for staff to make sure the servers are up and running and gives somebody a job I don't mind paying.

@husher I'm not talking about the Expansion cost, I mean the monthly fee to play the game.

Really, I wouldn't mind if the price of XBL went up so that games like this (not there's many, [PSU and FFXI]) didn't have an extra monthly fee, or Microsoft should run a server for these games.

LOL Sega are about 2 weeks late reminding everyone about the DLC and seriously, does anyone even play this anymore?
I know my friend used to but he cancelled it last month

@trickybuz93 Fascinating tale. What did you have for breakfast today? Actually, I would much rather know what your friend ate.

Dear Sega

Please stop jerking us around. A lot of people love the original Phantasy Star series. From its in depth story line to stunning graphics at that time. Some of us want to see a true Phantasy Star 5. Don't let us down, remember the power is yours.

sincerely Stevetrop

@Stevetrop Man of Mystery

I second that and you get a cool point from me, if for any reason, I thought I was the only one.

I cringe every time when I mention Phantasy Star around some of these kids and they reply, "Oh the MMO??"

@Stevetrop Man of Mystery
I remember way back in '86 when I got the original for my Master System. Great little soundtrack, awesome graphics, 3D dungeons!!!!!! Finding that damn cake shop is still a highlight of my gaming youth. Oh if only they had achievements back then.

...that's not a tear, there's something in my eye....

@Stevetrop Man of Mystery I'd love to see Phantasy Star's 1, 3 & 4 on XBLA, yeah I know they're on the Mega Drive collection.. I mean c'mon.. Phantasy Star 3 was that epic, it spanned 3 generations!

@Stevetrop Man of Mystery Totally agreed. PSU was half-assed for 360 even back then when it released, being a PS2-looking game and all. A new, current-gen PS would definetely be something to look forward to.

@Stevetrop Man of Mystery
Dear Stevetrop,

We'll get the Sonic Team right on your request.

Regards,
Sega

@SegaExecutives

Hey Sega,

Where's my sequel to Sonic the hedgehog (2006)?

Love,
thisredengine

@Stevetrop Man of Mystery A bit late, I know, and likely nobody will see this but I must respectfully disagree.
End of the Millennium was a beautiful cap to the series as a whole, and any new mainline PS would have to either take place before/along side all the existing ones, or trample all over the ending.

As a huge phantasy star, and mostly phantasy star online fan, I live you Richard for the last sentence of this post.

@Tonezorz

*love :(

I bet more people play PSOBB through private servers than PSU

@Cleric
Or take my DC online to private servers.

That's cool that Universe is getting Vivienne. I still say Portable runs laps around Universe, even if it is a "port."

For a second, I thought it said the game no longer required, so I jumped for joy for about 5 seconds, before I was let down.

@PlayboyX

the game no longer required a fee. spelling fail.

i guess i WAS let down. can't write anymore.

@PlayboyX

Same here, this whole "Expansion free" thing is ungodly old news. I was hoping that they realized the only real way anyone is going to play this game online is if there wasn't a fee.

Seriously... I'm not gonna pay to play a single-player game online, never have, never will, and don't plan on starting anytime soon.

@PlayboyX

Dude, I completely agree with you. I first started playing Phantasy Star games when Phantasy Star Online: Ep 1 and 2 was released on the Gamecube. (However, I DO realize there are predecessors that follow a more Final Fantasy style gameplay.) Why can't they just make another game just like that, but with more weapons, character options, and updated graphics? I have tons of hours logged into that game just on the local multiplayer. Even if they were to wave the subscription fee, I bet you they would make enough money from the software itself to pay for the servers. I know I would recommend it to every single one of my friends, and it would make the ultimate party game.

@ZeroPayn

I know right? Free to play would make the game ever so popular. But no, they have to be cheap bastards, and even after years after the game has been released, they still don't realize the true potential.

I'll stick to older Phantasy Star games thank you very much...

Freakin loved PSO on DC, and loved what they did on Gamecube....but after playing the demo of PSU...it lost so much of.......whatever the previous had...and it was awesome. First MMO experience, and after playing the others, i just prefer the system of combat and everything to anything else...does anygame out now take you back to that other than this steaming heap of "sonic team should call it quits"?

On that note, does anyone know why sonic team just up and produced glitchy crap with gorgeous CG openings? Did someone leave? Was it really the loss of the console race on segas part? What gives? Why can't Sonic team make ANYTHING good anymore???

@ShadowXIII

Well what else could they be referring to. It's not like its been a overhead RPG where battles are turn-based and the plots are more in-depth and complex.

Soon as I'm done with a few games, and I've little to play I may have to bite & jump back in.. IMight get DeathSpank & Limbo.. not sure if I'll finish Crapdown2, really doesn't stand up to the original for me

I hope the next Phantasy Star is a single-player RPG with turn based combat. A true Phantasy Star 5.

Seeing that Final Fantasy XIII dropped the ball, we're in dire need of an A+ RPG series (on a console, I know Dragon Quest IX is great but it's on a handheld).

Sega is dead....stop buying suff from them no matter how shiny it is.....*oooooo SHINY!!!!!!!*

It's very tempting to play this, but to get me on board they'd have to halve or at least reduce the subscription fee, and they'd have to make it easier to cancel your subscription. I don't like having to phone someone to cancel, they always try a bit too hard to talk me out of it.

Yeh I got the expansion thinking it was offline also but sadly it wasnt. So I sucked it up and got the online for about 8 months but it was getting exspensive. I forgot i had and on my credit card and before i knew it i had owned sega 40 bucks. So I quit and went and bought it for the PS2 and the exspansion for 20 bucks total. Now i can play the Exspanion Offline and have all the new missions like White Beast and all the others Offline. Yes the PS2 version of the exspandion can be played offline. And the max lvl is 200 not 180 like on the new PSU update.

Hey You dont have 2 call anymore. Just go on xbox.com and click on your account. Then susciptions then cancel supscriptions u can also take any credit cards u have on and take them off your account. I know i waited like 4 hours talking 2 some Arab person who then said plz repeat what u said like 100 times. It sucks u dont get anyone american unless u call at like 8Am-12Am its dumb.