Phantasy Star Portable Pushed Up

Sega's funny. They announce that they're going to release a game and then... say nothing.

Their big-in-Japan PSP MMORPG Phantasy Star Portable was confirmed for a late March North American release back at TGS. Since then, Sega has been very good about not saying anything else about the project.

Today brings the first news about the game that I have heard since then. Good thing it's good news.

Sega announced today that Phantasy Star Portable would be released a few weeks earlier than expected, and make an early March 2009 release instead of a late one. Good news for those waiting to get their hands on some more multiplayer space operaing.

Phantasy Star Portable will now be available on March 3, 2009 in North America. It is already available in Japan.

PSP Confirmed for North America

This headline totally makes sense. I am not referring to the PlayStation Portable (PSP), which has, of course, been available in North America for quite some time now, but to Sega's recent big Japanese hit Phantasy Star Portable (PSP).

PSP coming to our shores was apparently one of those little TGS announcements that slipped under almost everyone's radar, but Sega has confirmed that the game will be making the jump sometime next March.

Unfortunately, the North American version will be missing its MMO-esque multiplayer abilities, retaining only the game's single player story mode and local ad hoc multiplayer.

So, anyone jumping on the slightly gimped PSP for the PSP? Me? Pass.