Today, Sega announced that its upcoming multiplayer action RPG, Phantasy Star Online, has been delayed. Originally expected to hit North America on the 23rd of this month, Phantasy Star Online is now slated for a January 30 release date-- a full week later than ancitipated. No reasons were given for the delay. Whether or not this has anything to do with the continuing confusion over whether or not Phantasy Star Online will be compatible with the new Dreamcast broadband adapter is uncertain.

Phantasy Star Online is the first console RPG designed with Internet multiplayer in mind. Using the Dreamcast's built-in networking capabilities, players will be able to connect to online game servers and join up with friends to progress through the game. Teamwork is stressed, and the game's difficulty level is high enough that working together will be the only way to pass through much of the game. Though Phantasy Star Online can be played without ever going online, the game cannot be completed without making use of its multiplayer elements. For more information on the game, check out our continuing coverage.