Yesterday, Segas "Sonic Team" made the announcement that the current generation of servers for Phantasy Star Online for the GameCube will be shut down. Sega will fully replace the old system with new servers that will possibly be powered by Guinea pig instead of the old hamster-driven model.

For Phantasy Star Online fans in Japan, this means that they will need to change their old V.1 discs for the new V.1.1 model. Thankfully, Sega have given players the chance to swap their old discs for the new ones, as from the 26th of March 2004, the old version will no longer be recognised. And, to commemorate the transition from old to new, Sega will run the old servers at no cost for the week preceding the change.

No news as to whether this change will affect the UK yet.