The recent announcement of Persona 5 Tactica has added yet another entry to Atlus' list of Persona 5 spin-offs, as the company continues the heyday of the beloved Phantom Thieves cast. While the title looks to be a promising addition to the series' offshoots, its existence may mean the delay, or even loss, of a highly requested spin-off among the series. As the years draw closer to Persona 6's reveal, the lack of concrete news surrounding a once-rumored Persona 5 Arena could mean that it will get kicked to the sidelines in favor of new avenues.
Persona 5 continues to hold relevance nearly seven years after its initial release, as its characters and aesthetic have seen a wider range of use beyond the original title. This has translated to the rhythm, musou, gacha, and now tactics genres, as Atlus seeks to expand further from its turn-based formula. While many have been excited to see the Phantom Thieves in these different contexts, the ever-increasing number of Persona 5 spin-offs have left some eager for Persona 6's reveal. As such, one might wonder whether Tactica will be the last of its kind before the next mainline game's announcement.
Persona 5 Tactica Could Leave Little Room for a Persona 5 Arena
Given the ports of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, an all-inclusive fighting game featuring the Phantom Thieves has been a point of great interest among the fanbase, with many having believed it would be featured alongside the Persona series' 25th anniversary celebration. Over a year later, however, the game remains to be seen among the company's repertoire, with no concrete news or announcements regarding its existence. Though the title could still be a viable next step for Atlus, the existence of Tactica seems to indicate that such a game wouldn't be seen for at least another year, if at all.
To add to this, recent leaks have suggested that Atlus will take a 'global approach' to the Persona IP, with the development of a unique spin-off that features every protagonist across the series' mainline entries. Though this information has not been verified, the rumors surrounding the title, codenamed "Asa," seem to imply that it will not be an Arena game, but instead a different cooperative experience that works as an homage to the Persona fanbase. Should these rumors be true, then Persona 5 Arena's chances of happening are even lower.
Such a stance would be an interesting next step for the Persona series' future, as Atlus seems to be increasingly focused on developing the IP's offshoot games. However, this also begs the question of how well the approach will sustain players' interests, especially if these Persona spin-offs continue for the next few years. One way to make them more versatile would certainly be to include past characters from the series among the Phantom Thieves' adventures, which could make a Persona 5 Arena release even more pertinent for the company.
As the stopgaps between Persona 5 and Persona 6 continue, the series' next mainline release feels simultaneously near and far, leaving some fans burnt-out from the Phantom Thieves' appearances. However, if Persona 5 Tactica proves to be the last of Atlus' Persona 5 based offshoots, then the absence of a new Arena game could leave many disappointed. Given the company's trending reveals and its proclivity towards spin-offs, it looks like such a title shouldn't be left completely off the table. As the years go on, it will be interesting to see where Atlus lands next for the IP's direction.
Persona 5 Tactica is set to release on November 17th for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
