Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst shipping in July

TOKYO--According to Japanese retailers, Sega will be releasing Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst for the PC on July 15.

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst is an online-only edition of PSO Episode I & II for the PC. Aside from upgraded graphics and a number of other tweaks, the biggest difference PSOBB has from earlier releases of PSO Episode I & II is that the user's saved data is stored on the server side, meaning that the game and its services will be less prone to cheats. PSO Episode I & II has been released on the Xbox, GameCube, and Dreamcast consoles, and a PC version of the first Phantasy Star Online was released in Japan in 2001.

At the retail price of 2,070 yen ($18), PSOBB is set at a relatively lower price than other massively multiplayer online role-playing games in Japan, such as the 3,129-yen Lineage II ($28), the 2,940-yen Ragnarok Online ($26), or the 4,284-yen Final Fantasy XI ($38). PSOBB is currently under beta testing, and monthly subscription fees will cost 1,050 yen ($9) once the game launches, with the first 30 days offered for free.