Persona 6 hasn't been formally revealed, although Atlus has confirmed it is in development, and it is still currently one of the most anticipated JRPGs on the market. This can be attributed in large part to the success of Persona 5. Until the release of P5, Persona was a niche series that enjoyed a cult following. Its unique blend of dating and social simulator mechanics is tightly integrated with its RPG elements; Persona 5 excelled at providing a cohesive experience tied together with flashy visuals. P5 launched the series into the limelight, and fans began to speculate immediately about a sequel. While Persona 6 is in development, it will still be a while before it's ready. This is something that Atlus can take advantage of because 2026 would be the perfect year to release P6.
Atlus is best known for the Persona franchise, but the company has a plethora of other games that have been released recently, and even more are coming out in 2024. This year saw the release of remasters for the original Etrian Odyssey trilogy, and next year, Atlus is releasing Unicorn Overlord, a tactical RPG with similarities to 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. On top of other franchises, the Persona series receives plenty of spin-offs. Persona 5 Tactica was just released last month, and at least one more spin-off is currently in production. Persona 6 may be the most anticipated game from Atlus, but it is certainly not the only one to be excited about.
Persona 6 Development Confirmed by Atlus, Pressure to Surpass P5
As told via a recruitment page for new Atlus employees, development on Persona 6 is currently underway and looks to surpass Persona 5.
2024 is a Stacked Year for Atlus
On top of Unicorn Overlord, Atlus has two other major games announced for 2024: the remake Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new title from the creators of the third, fourth, and fifth Persona games. Persona 3 Reload may not be an entirely new game, but many recent fans of the series haven't played the original game, so 2024 already has a new mainline Persona title for the majority of its fan base. Metaphor: ReFantazio shares a lot of mechanics with the Persona franchise and is one of 2024's most anticipated original games. Even if Persona 6 was ready for a 2024 release, it would be unwise for Atlus to release it next year as it would take attention away from Metaphor.
2024 Has Other Persona Content
Persona 5: The Phantom X is set for release in 2024, though its release outside of China is unconfirmed. Rumors have suggested that P5X could come to the West, or at least other parts of Asia, further saturating 2024 with games from Atlus. A Mario Party-style Persona spin-off is also rumored to be in development. With the wealth of Persona games and other similar titles scheduled for 2024, there will be plenty to keep fans busy well into the already-packed 2025. Giving Metaphor and P3R time to breathe and potentially grow with DLC in 2025 would make sense for Atlus.
2026 is Persona's 30th Anniversary
Furthermore, 2026 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Persona series, and there would be no better way to celebrate than with the release of a new mainline title. Many of the creative minds behind the last three Persona games have moved on to Metaphor: ReFantazio, so P6 will likely reinvent numerous aspects of the series. Because of this, Persona 6 will be a turning point for the franchise, so releasing it on a major anniversary would let it be both a celebration of the series' legacy and a fitting way to usher in its next chapter.
2026 would be the perfect time to release Persona 6. The game is hotly anticipated, and releasing it then would be a grand celebration of the series' 30th anniversary. 2026 is also, fittingly, the 10th anniversary of Persona 5. This release window would allow other significant releases from Atlus to have their own time to shine and allow Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 3 Reload DLC to release without being overshadowed should Atlus desire to expand either title. 2026 may seem like a long time to wait, but it's the year that makes the most sense for Persona 6.
