Since the release of Phantasy Star Universe's Supplemental Update for PC/PS2 in Japan, there have been a couple other significant additions to the game. After the recently announced Supplemental Update for the Xbox 360 version of Ambition of the Illuminus, many players have been wondering exactly which features and content would make the transition.

The PSU community team has taken note of these concerns and GM Edward has posted a number of details on one of the most heavily discussed features; GUARDIANS Cash.

In Japan, the GUARDIANS Cash system involved microtransactions and as such has been seen as a negative by a significant portion of the Xbox 360 playerbase. It should relieve those players to find out that there will not be a method of paying additional money for in-game content or features for the Xbox 360 version of PSU. Instead, this content will be adapted through other means. Examples of possible distribution methods included releasing the items as mission rewards or making them available in the casino, but nothing has been finalized yet. Expect to see more information on this content as the update approaches.

Additionally, it was revealed that the limited, free-play mode known as "Community Course" or "Free Course" will not be part of the Xbox 360 version of the game. Despite this, the demo is still said to be an effective tool for bringing new players into the game.

For discussion of this news, there is a thread progressing in the forums.

This week's update for Phantasy Star Universe on the Xbox 360 servers has been detailed on the English PSU homepage. Players can expect to see the following starting this Friday:

• GUARDIANS Boost Road on Moatoob featuring the following missions:
  • System Defense
  • Desert Terror
  • Tunnel Recapture
  • Caves of Ice
  • Awoken Serpent
• Wedding lobbies will be posted. The Wedding Cake will be available at the Variety Shop during this time.
• Casino Voloyal item rotation.

Parum Unification Commemoration lobbies will also be coming down with this update along with the Parum Unity Souvenir currently available at the Variety Shop. A thread has been created in the forums regarding this news. Update: GM Edward has confirmed that this GBR will once again involve a drop boost. Update: The Japanese 360 update page has been posted. System Defense has been added to the list of missions included in the GBR. Additionally, the GBR as well as the Wedding lobbies will be running up to June 21. This is the same day that V1 support is slated to be pulled. Update: As reported on the English and Japanese pages, MAG+ medals were not available for distribution between the last two maintenance periods. It is once again possible to receive these for those players that have yet to.

This week's update for Phantasy Star Universe on the Xbox 360 servers has been detailed on the English PSU homepage. Players can expect to see the following starting this Friday:

• Level cap increase from 170 to 180.
• Parum Unification Commemoration lobbies will be posted until May 20. The Parum Unity Souvenir will be available at the Variety Shop during this time.
• Casino Voloyal item rotation.

Spring lobbies will also be coming down with this update. A thread has already been created in the forums regarding this news. Update: The Japanese 360 homepage has noted that the seasonal lobbies and item will be available until May 20.

The supplemental update for Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus will be arriving this summer on the Xbox 360, according to an announcement on the official PSU home page. The announcement, posted today by GM Edward, gives some basic information about the update and includes a teaser that there will be a more PSU news to come. Additionally, Sega has announced that online support for PSU Version 1.0 (the base version, without the expansion) will be ending on June 21, 2010. This is a necessity for deploying the supplemental update and will assuredly be a benefit to those already enjoying the AOTI expansion. Official EN Announcements JP Version 1.0 End Announcement JP Supplemental Update Announcement A discussion has already started in the forums.

The English page has just gone up for this week's update. Included is the following:

• The Comeback C-S (partner mission at the GUARDIANS Branch in Ohtoku City)
• Medals for MAG+ will be rewarded to all Xbox 360 players who placed in the top 100 of the Time Attack Ranking. The medals will be distributed to common boxes and players will have until 1 AM PDT on July 1 to claim them.
• Spring lobbies will be available from April 23 until May 13.
• Casino Voloyal item rotation.

The Photon Art leveling boost as well as the Easter lobbies will be coming down with this week's maintenance period. This update is already being discussed in the forums. Update: The JP 360 homepage has been posted. It reiterates many of the same details, as well as gives the timespan for the seasonal lobbies.

Detailed by GM Edward and the Japanese PSU homepage is the Xbox 360 update for this week. Here's what will be posted:

• New Challengers C-S (partner mission at the GUARDIANS Branch in Holtes City)
• Easter lobbies will be available from April 2 until April 22. Players can find Rappy Paska during this time.
• Casino Voloyal item rotation.

As a reminder, the Photon Art leveling boost is also slated to continue until April 22. Update: The English page has been posted for this week's update.

A post at Major Nelson's blog has appeared with details regarding support for USB memory devices on the Xbox 360. A system update will be going out on April 6th which will expand on the memory storage and management options for the console. To use a flash drive or HDD, it must be at least 1GB in size. It will be possible to declare up to 16GB (depending on the size of the device) to be used for Xbox 360 related storage. It will also be possible to use two devices at once (for up to 32GB of external storage). Pictures of what these new options will look like are featured in Major Nelson's flicker account. As a side note, official Xbox 360 250GB HDDs are heading out to stores. They will be retailing for $130 in the United States. It appears that they are set to replace the 120GB HDDs that are currently for sale. Update: The system update is now going out to all Xbox 360 owners. A FAQ is available here.

As announced on the official English PSU homepage, there will be a content update for this week which applies to both Xbox 360 and PC/PS2 servers:

• The following missions will be available after the event with various modifications:
  • Maximum Attack G' (S/S2 difficulties to be added, new mission rewards)
  • Program DF' (S/S2 difficulties to be added, new mission rewards)
  • Gifts from Beyond+ (some price changes and the removal of other event currency)
• Medals will be distributed to players who place from 1 through 100 in the Time Attack Rankings for MAG+.
• Casino Voloyal item rotation.

These items apply only to the Xbox 360 servers:

• White Day lobbies will be posted alongside Jaggo Amure and WD Box. These will last from March 12 until April 1.
• A previously unimplemented Photon Art boost will be available from March 12 until April 22.

These bonuses apply only to the PC/PS2 servers until they are closed on March 31:

• Three Star Luck for all players
• +20% synth rate boost
• +15% grinding boost
• 10 Silver Voloyal Coins per day
• Free Lumilass
• 50% discount on clothing and cast parts
• A previously unimplemented Photon Art boost.

This will most likely be the final set of updates for the PC/PS2 servers until their closure. The planned time for the shutdown is midnight Pacific Time on March 31. You can discuss this update in this forum thread.

Update: The official Japanese Xbox 360 homepage has posted its version of the update notes. Update: The medals for the Time Attack participants were not handed out in this update. They will be handed out soon. Read here for more information. Update: WD Box is also available at the Variety Shop on the PC/PS2 servers. Update: GM Edward will be handing out medals himself to those who won them on the PC/PS2 server. More details on that in this official forum post.

Earlier today, a few announcements had been made regarding the western PC/PS2 and Xbox 360 servers.

The first notice is in regards to a maintenance which will occur at the normal time this week. There will be a short downtime in which corrections will be made to the following items:

• Ragan-Ragan
• De Ragun
• Deathrain
• Lumirus / Wall
• [B] Yamata-Misakic
• Parum Fountain

These items are not currently able to be traded or sold.

In addition, Sonic Team has confirmed that the Photon Art EXP boost expected during the Maximum Attack G+ event has in fact not been implemented. They will be waiting until the event closes to activate the boost. It is now scheduled to last from March 12th until April 22nd.

A discussion thread is located here in the forums.