How much longer will PSO2 last and if they make a PSO3

[Meta77]

So how much longer do you all think the game will continue now that it is on episode 5.
Do you think they will ever make a PSO3? And if so would you like the format it is now just upgraded graphics and mechanices or a overhaul like open world maps where missions take place in the world instead of a mission counter?

[Kondibon]

They explicitly said they're planning on maintaining the game for 10 years. So like... 5 more years, PSO3 or not.

[Zyrusticae]

Previous precedent is for a new PSO-esque game being released every 6 years, but it seems PSO2 is bucking this trend. Wouldn't surprise me if the PS4 port had at least something to do with that (extending the lifespan of the game and all).

Thus, I revise my prediction for PSO3 to be somewhere around the 8-year mark, two years before PSO2's end-of-life. At that point the game will definitely be running long in the tooth. As for what PSO3 itself will entail... even more emphasis on cosmetics (with, finally, articulating fingers), and judging from Hero's gameplay, more Devil May Cry or just general Platinum character action game-esque gameplay with a strong emphasis on speed and lengthy combos and attack chains. It likely won't change from being a lobby-based game, but they will probably take lessons from PSO2 and make each quest much more unique, with different game modes for every biome.

PSO3 will exist basically as a vehicle for selling more cosmetics. Better, updated graphics will serve as a strong incentive for players to scratch the gacha all over again. It will also likely be the last gasp of the series before everyone starts shifting over to VR full-time (as, if it lasts as long as PSO2 is planned to, it'll be 2027 at the earliest before we can expect to see another sequel). Sounds wild today, but I fully expect console and PC gaming as we know it will begin to be phased out due to VR reaching an inflection point of both quality and accessibility (in terms of both cost and ease of entry). Input devices will be refined, they'll have fully solved the motion sickness problem, and there may even be some rudimentary sense of 'touch' for players at that point.

But I'm getting too far ahead of the topic here. You can see the direction they've been taking PSO2 in lately to figure out what their plans for the (frankly, inevitable) sequel are. That sequel is also likely to have a simultaneous release on PC and the PS4, with a significant emphasis on the PS4 Pro version due to the visuals, and there will most definitely be a PS5 port as well, whenever that comes around. Hopefully the series finally not being hamstrung by having to support an outdated and heavily limited handheld (the Vita) will allow the dev team to really stretch their wings.

The scratch ain't goin' anywhere, though. As long as they get as much money as they've been getting from it, the RNG will continue to be a fact of life. Them's the breaks!

[loafhero]

Like the above said, PSO2 probably has 5 years left and there's really nothing I see that suggests the game would last shorter than that.

If a PSO3 is made, I'd prefer a more stylized art style with less over-designed stuff (unnecessary zig-zag lines are soooo outdated SEGA) and colors that aren't saturated just so that the game ages well for the next 10 years. A minimalist UI design would be nice too.

Maybe update its sound effects for things like Techniques, Menu navigation sounds, Mate consumption, etc. I get that these sound effects are a classic and are part of the PSO identity but I really don't think it aged well.

[KaizoKage]

I think will experiment on some stuff on PSO2 before moving to PSO3, IMO ep4-5 are like experimental stuff to see how people react to the new system it also feels like story spin-off rather than the main series..

also with Hero, it's like they're experimenting on a different approach regarding further classes along with Dark Blast (So OP in its trailer)

but yeah, it'll be a few more years before we even feel that the game is dead and moving on to a new PSO

[Ezodagrom]

I could see a new game (be it PSO3, PSU2, or something else) entering the invitation alpha stage around the 8-ish year mark or so.

[Shoterxx]

PSP3, anyone?

[Lyrise]

I'm going to hold a very unpopular opinion - as much as I enjoy PSO2, if they do a PSO3, I'd rather they go back to the paid model. At least back then, when we were paying for this stuff, we got a more complete experience, AND we got proper meaningful updates. PSO2 was originally an experiment of "Can we do a high quality game for free"? We got our answer (yes), but it seems like after they got the answer, it seemed to be very lucrative for money, and they've been complacent about having to push out more meaningful updates (Ep5 story and in general is a lazy job - No more animated cutscenes, no new areas to explore, BQs are effectively just a giant square with texture of the month applied to it, etc.)

While PSNova is kind of the opposite in that you paid for it, I think the experience was better... but of course it didn't sell that well, because, money.

[Meta77]

I'm going to hold a very unpopular opinion - as much as I enjoy PSO2, if they do a PSO3, I'd rather they go back to the paid model. At least back then, when we were paying for this stuff, we got a more complete experience, AND we got proper meaningful updates. PSO2 was originally an experiment of "Can we do a high quality game for free"? We got our answer (yes), but it seems like after they got the answer, it seemed to be very lucrative for money, and they've been complacent about having to push out more meaningful updates (Ep5 story and in general is a lazy job - No more animated cutscenes, no new areas to explore, BQs are effectively just a giant square with texture of the month applied to it, etc.)

While PSNova is kind of the opposite in that you paid for it, I think the experience was better... but of course it didn't sell that well, because, money.

I kind of see that point. It does seem the game has slowly gone the DOA5 route in more outfit choices than overall game updates. Yes every few months a few new things are added but outfits seem to be the driving trend. I did not mind the paid model granted they came out with updates constantly like bam bam. Sort of like FFXV though its just as bad when it comes to outfits.

[Ezodagrom]

The free to play model is probably too lucrative for them to go back to the monthly paid model.