Highlights
- Persona 3 Reload has the potential to be as popular as Persona 5, and it could have significant implications for the future of the series.
- Persona 4 used to be the face of the franchise and had a lasting influence on fans, but its legacy has been somewhat forgotten amidst the success of Persona 5.
- The remake of Persona 4 could create a new release cycle for Atlus, keeping the franchise fresh and bridging the gap between modern experiences, potentially setting the stage for the success of Persona 6.
Persona 3 Reload is set to release early next year, and Atlus’ latest RPG has the potential to make the third Persona as popular as the fifth. Launched into the wider mainstream of gaming with Persona 5, the spin-off series of Shin Megami Tensei had been around for two decades before landing the studio its biggest hit yet. Expected to bring the game that started the modern formula into the current generation, the upcoming launch of Persona 3 Reload could have bigger implications for the future of the series.
The entry that firmly established the franchise’s aesthetic around its balance of turn-based battles and dating simulation, Persona 3 was a fondly remembered relic of a game prior to the announcement of Reload. Ubiquitous with the series, Persona 5 has instead dominated its predecessors ever since it earned its spot in the mainstream. The Persona series is in a golden era in terms of honoring its past and present alike, but there’s one major title that has been somewhat forgotten amidst the fanfare.
Persona 4 Used to Be the Face of the Franchise
Persona 5 may be the first thing most fans think of when the series comes up, but Persona 4 was the defining game of its kind for years before that. Released just two years after the original Persona 3, it would essentially improve upon everything that was loved about the first while transitioning into a more upbeat atmosphere. For the better part of ten years, Persona 4 was the identity and image of the series, an influential period that still ripples into today for fans of the era.
Spin-offs of the most recent Persona don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon, but those releases don’t quite stack up to Persona 4’s legacy. While it has received the Persona Q and Dancing All Night treatments that are typical for the major entries, Persona 4 Arena showed the true strength of the game’s cast. A sequel that continued the story years after the initial title, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax was even updated with rollback netcode last year, making it a fighting game basically on par with the most competitive. Relevant enough to have this much of an impact after 15 years, an upcoming release window offers a great opportunity for Persona 4’s comeback.
Persona 4 Remake's Potential to Play Off of Persona 6
By bringing the world of Persona 3 into a game with the technical fidelity that Persona 5 featured, Atlus has managed to successfully update the older entry while helping to establish a more cohesive identity for the series. Expected to succeed in and out of Xbox Game Pass, Reload could create the prime environment for Persona 6 to thrive within. Continuing this path by releasing Persona 4’s remake next could effectively create a new release cycle for Atlus that keeps the entire franchise fresh. With its noticeably lower visual presentation fidelity, the fourth game’s update will ultimately be necessary to bridge the gap between modern experiences.
Persona 6's mysterious scenario could see it leaving the high school setting behind, and an eventual return to Inaba could be the perfect balance. As Persona 3 Reload as committed to honoring the past, rumors of remakes for Persona 1 and Persona 2's duology have even given hope to fans of the most forgotten games in the series. Whether Atlus chooses to go to Persona 4 or even further back, the decision to remake one of its franchise-defining classics is still likely to be remembered as one of its best.
Persona 3 Reload releases February 2, 2024 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
