Phantasy Star Online 2 for PS Vita is 10% complete

Following today’s Phantasy Star Online 2 announcement for PlayStation Vita, producer Satoshi Sakai has posted an update on the official Phantasy Star blog.

In the announcement video, you may have noticed the PlayStation Vita version of the game looks rough when compared to the PC version running alongside it. Do not worry, as it is only temporary. The game is still very early in development – only 10 percent complete – according to the producer.

Shaders have still yet to be implemented in the PS Vita version, and the game is currently running on “Level 1” drawing, which is the PC version’s lowest level drawing specification. As development progresses, the game will move closer towards the PC version’s highest drawing level. For now, it is not yet optimized, and suffers from frame rate drops.

Since PC development began, Sakai always wanted to bring Phantasy Star Online 2 to a home platform (he classifies this under consoles and portables). Phantasy Star was born on a console (Dreamcast) and gained popularity on a portable (PSP), which is why Phantasy Star Online 2 is being brought to PlayStation Vita.

The PS Vita and PC versions of the game are played across the same server, meaning they share data. You can create a character on PC, then login later with your PlayStation Vita. Because data is saved to the server, the game can only be played online. It is a major separation from the last few Phantasy Star games on portable, notes Sakai, but PlayStation Vita allows them the opportunity.

Phantasy Star Online 2 is due for PlayStation Vita in Japan in 2013. The PC version, however, is still set for 2012. Sakai assures PC consumers that the PS Vita version will not delay the PC release, and that they have separate teams working on each version.

As for the future, stay tuned, as even after this announcement, there are still more surprises to come, Sakai teased.

For now, check out screenshots of Phantasy Star Online 2 for PC at the gallery.