Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium – How Its High US Price and Unexpected Release Shaped Sega’s RPG Legacy

Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium – How Its High US Price and Unexpected Release Shaped Sega’s RPG Legacy When discussing the most iconic Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) of the 1990s, "Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium" consistently earns its place among gaming’s greats.

Developed by Sega and released for the Sega Genesis in Japan in 1993 and in North America in 1995, the game overcame significant hurdles to become a classic.

Notably, it launched in the US with a striking retail price of just under $100—a figure that stands out in the history of video game pricing and localization. "Phantasy Star IV" is the fourth main entry in Sega’s acclaimed science-fantasy RPG franchise and is widely celebrated for its engaging turn-based combat, innovative macro system, and deep narrative.

Despite these strengths, its Western release was far from guaranteed.

Victor Ireland, the founder of renowned localization studio Working Designs (responsible for localizing titles such as Lunar, Popful Mail, and Dragon Force), recently shared first-hand insight into the game’s journey to North America in an episode of the Retro Hangover podcast. Ireland explained that Sega of America originally had no plans to localize and publish "Phantasy Star IV" in the United States.

However, his keen interest shifted the company’s perspective.

"The only reason Phantasy Star IV was released in the US by Sega was because of my involvement," Ireland stated, emphasizing that Sega of America had initially rejected it.

At the time, Ireland worked closely with Sega Japan and immediately expressed the desire to license the game, noting, "I was willing to pursue a cartridge release despite the high upfront costs, recognizing it would achieve significant sales." Ireland went on to describe how the strong interest from Working Designs prompted Sega Japan to question Sega of America’s lack of confidence in the project.

"When Sega Japan saw our enthusiasm, they pushed Sega of America to reconsider.

Their relationship was sometimes contentious, and this gave Sega Japan leverage to ask, 'If this game isn't worth releasing, why is Working Designs so eager to license it?'" Ireland recounted. Despite agreeing to release the game, Sega of America was not entirely supportive.

Ireland revealed that the company set the retail price near $100, far higher than typical Genesis games.

According to him, "Sega of America deliberately set the price high, intending to discourage sales and justify their initial reluctance to Sega Japan.

The official line cited high ROM costs, but in reality, the goal was to ensure underwhelming performance." Nevertheless, "Phantasy Star IV" defied expectations and sold out even at its premium price point.

"It ended up being very popular, even at a hundred bucks.

This unexpected success generated friction between Working Designs and Sega of America," Ireland noted.

The saga illustrates the complicated dynamics between Sega’s regional branches and highlights the hesitance Sega of America harbored toward RPGs well into the Saturn era, a sentiment reinforced during Bernie Stolar’s leadership. Today, "Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium" is lauded as a cult classic and is available for a new generation of players on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch Online’s SEGA Genesis library and the SEGA Mega Drive Classics collection on Nintendo Switch and other modern hardware.

With its exceptional design and compelling backstory, the game remains a vital chapter in JRPG and Sega history.

Working Designs Sega US Xbox Series X|S Genesis Sega Genesis Phantasy Star Phantasy Star IV Victor Ireland Sega of America Sega Japan Bernie Stolar Millennium