PlayStation 2 versions of Ambition of the Illuminus are standalone and do not require the original game to play. The Xbox 360 version does require the original disc because the expansion is downloadable content. On June 30, 2010, the expansion became free on Xbox Live. As of July 20, 2010, the expansion is required for users wishing to play online. An updated version was released at this time which contains GUARDIANS Advanced Content. Ambition of the Illuminus introduced numerous new features to Phantasy Star Universe including new weapons, Photon Arts, missions, clothing, enemies, and more. Server closures Due to low levels of use, the North American and PAL PC/PS2 servers of Phantasy Star Universe were shut down on March 31, 2010. PS2 support for the Japanese servers was discontinued on April 14, 2011. The Xbox 360 servers were shut down on September 7, 2012. The Japanese PC servers were closed as of 00:00 JST on September 28, 2012. Despite this, fans have created private servers for the game and still play to this day. Reception Phantasy Star Universe The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Erik Brudvig of IGN said of the PlayStation 2 version, "The result is an unsatisfying and stale experience that feels like an update to an old game that has had its day rather than a new title." In Japan, Famitsu gave the PS2 version a score of two nines, one eight, and one nine for a total of 35 out of 40. Ambition of the Illuminus The PS2 version of the Ambition of the Illuminus expansion pack received "average" reviews, while the PC version received "unfavorable" reviews, according to Metacritic. Legacy Phantasy Star Universe's setting, story, and characters have been continued and expanded upon in three PlayStation Portable games; Phantasy Star Portable, Phantasy Star Portable 2, and Phantasy Star Portable 2: Infinity. The games offer new features and content; as in the Ambition of the Illuminus expansion pack, players play through the story mode as their own characters. In the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Portable, it was possible to import some character data from the PC and PS2 versions of the game, this was however not possible in other regions. In 2012, Phantasy Star Online 2 was released as a brand-new game with a story disconnected from Phantasy Star Online or Phantasy Star Universe.