Atlus has released banger after banger the last couple of years, and 2024, in particular, was an incredible year for the studio. New, definitive versions of existing games, remakes of older titles, and even some brand new experimentation with new series. As we look forward to 2025, though, it is now time for Atlus to release Persona 6.
To start, let’s take a look back at the studio behind Persona 5 and its Royal version, P-Studio. This is the studio designated to make your favorite Persona games. While many of the creators from the original mainline game went on to make Metaphor: ReFantazio, P-Studio still exists as the future of this particular series.
P-Studio’s last work, at the time of writing, was Persona 3 Reload in February 2024 and the last new game before that was Persona 5 Tactica in November 2023. The problem with these two games is the former is a remake of an existing title, while the latter was a smaller spin-off. P-Studio has always shown it is able to make these types of games in between the larger titles without affecting them too much.
Before those two games, it was Persona 5 Royal as the main game P-Studio worked on, which came out in 2019 in Japan and 2020 worldwide. The development team there has been working on pretty much spin-offs, remakes, and re-releases since the original release of P5 in 2016. That certainly sounds like plenty of time to work on a more significant new title amidst all of these.
Even if, for instance, P-Studio didn’t start working on Persona 6 until after Royal, that would be going on six years in 2025 of full-time development. While we have waited much longer than that in the past between mainline releases, the previous title laid the groundwork visually for what Persona 6 can offer. The same can even be said for Metaphor and SMTV in some ways.
As such, six years to come out with Persona 6 seems like a pretty reasonable timeframe. If nothing else, it seems likely to expect an announcement of the game with a formal release date sometime in the next year. The question then remains whether or not we also see it release in the same year of 2025. This is possible, but most likely in the latter half of the year.
The benefit of this, though, would be the ability for the new release to learn from past releases. For instance, it could release simultaneously worldwide for multiple platforms. I want to see Persona 6 come out for Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC at the same time. In addition, I want it to take some of the ideas from past games like Metaphor.
For instance, I love how the Bonds system works in that 2024 JRPG. They are much shorter, sweeter, and to the point. They have eight stages to each relationship, rather than the usual 10. Better yet, there is no weird unnecessary mechanic like reversing relationships or needing to waste time to hang out with someone just to reach the next level on the next hangout.
This is exactly how the social links or Confidants in the upcoming mainline entry should work. Let go of the fluff and let players just focus on the relationship with the various characters. Beyond social links, I also hope to see a male and female protagonist. It is high time for this feature. Sure, it does take a lot of work, but it is worth it. If this means both protagonists are able to romance every option, so be it. Otherwise, specific dialogues and events will be necessary for both sides.
Then there is the combat side of Persona 6. I adore how Metaphor allows players to enjoy both action and turn-based combat. You can mash away and defeat some enemies without ever transitioning to a combat screen. This is such a great hybrid system and we need an expansion of that. Allow players to fully take on all normal, non-boss enemies this way. There should be a dodge, block, and Persona skills you can use.
Finally, there needs some serious work on the pacing and story. What really annoys me about the recent Atlus games is how awkward the storytelling can be at times. For instance, Persona 5’s best story arcs are the very first one and the very last one in Royal. It is a similar situation for Metaphor, too. The beginning of that story up through the Martira Arc is the most compelling part.
It is time for the stories to be engaging from start to finish. And it is certainly time for the new definitive versions like Royal to go away for good. I am all for DLC like Episode Aigis that expands the existing game. But it is downright disrespectful to expect players to play through a 100-hour JRPG a possibly second time with a new version just to see the new content.
2025 feels like the right year for Persona 6. It will have been nine years since the original release of Persona 5 in 2025. Atlus has the chance to shock the world with one of the best JRPGs of all time next year. Let’s just hope that it is announced and released sometime in 2025.
Persona 5 Royal is available right now for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Published: Dec 28, 2024 06:00 pm