Microsoft announced the return of Phantasy Star Online 2 during E3 2019, but eager fans will soon have the chance to check it out before it officially launches on Xbox One in North America in Spring 2020.
The Xbox team today announced that sign-ups for the Phantasy Star Online 2 closed beta are available today. You can sign up for it right now by following the steps on the game’s official website, but first you have to install the Xbox Insider Hub application.
To download the Xbox Insider Hub, you can get it from the Microsoft Store by typing Xbox Insider Hub into the store’s search bar. You can do this from a desktop with Windows 10, or from an Xbox One.
Download it for free, and follow these steps to enroll in the program:
- Launch the Xbox Insider Hub from your hardware of choice
- For those visiting this application for the first time, accept the Terms of Use agreement
- On the main dashboard, go to the Insider Content page
- Look for the games section, and then pick Phantasy Star Online 2
- Pick the Join icon and register for the early sign up closed beta
You’ll receive a notification through Xbox Live when the closed beta starts.
Phantasy Star Online 2 initially released in Japan during summer 2012 for Windows. It’s remained in Asia for many years, releasing to the PlayStation Vita in 2013, and then the PlayStation 4 in April 2016, and a Nintendo Switch version in April 2018, and it became one of the most popular online games in Japan. This marks the first time Phantasy Star Online 2 will be available outside of that region since it launched.
The announcement for the upcoming closed beta test even came with a flash trailer. There’s no exact release date for the closed beta at this time, but it’s safe to assume it will be relatively soon, since the game releases to the public in Spring 2020.
