The game can be played between the PC and the PlayStation Vita

Mar 27, 2012 13:54 GMT  ·  By

Video game developer and publisher SEGA has announced that its upcoming Phantasy Star Online 2 will use the free-to-play business model when it is launched on the PC-powered by Windows, the new PlayStation Vita handheld from Sony and a variety of smartphones that use iOS and Android operating systems.

SEGA says that gamers will be able to explore the game world and try out the quests without paying anything but that microtransactions will be offered for those interested in getting access to a number of special in-game items.

The company has not said whether these are all only cosmetic items or if they can also be used to improve performance.

The PC and PlayStation Vita version of the game will offer cross-platform mode while the smartphone ones will have an entirely separate game world.

The PC version of Phantasy Star Online 2 arrives during the summer while the Vita version will be offered during 2013.