Coming into 2022, Atlus has a big year ahead of itself. Following the success of Persona 5 Strikers, Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne's remaster, and Shin Megami Tensei 5, the Japanese publisher still has a very busy year ahead for its biggest franchise. As of September 2021, Persona is celebrating its 25th anniversary, kicking off a year-long commemoration of the series' history. Up to "Autumn" of this year, Atlus has five announcements planned for the celebration; ranging from new anniversary-themed merchandise and concerts, to new remasters and potentially new game reveals. Atlus is promising a lot to look forward to for fans of the popular JRPG franchise this year.
These five upcoming announcements could certainly live up to the hype as well, based on what's been already revealed thus far, as well as what's rumored to come next. Persona's 25th anniversary reveals kicked off with more modest reveals, including new apparel and accessories based on the series, as well as upcoming concerts and other non-gaming fanfare. However, at The Game Awards in December, the first proper game reveal came with Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. This modern port of the popular fighting game spin-off sets the stage for what's coming in 2022, both in terms of what to expect, as well as the potential of 2022's reveals.
Bringing Classic Persona Games To Modern Platforms
Beyond the celebratory merchandise and concerts, the first major game announcement of the 25th anniversary was Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, a port of the 2012 fighting game. Anime fighter fans have long asked for a modern port of the popular fighting game, but this port is also a potential tease for what's coming. As exemplified previously with Persona 4 Golden on Steam, and tangentially with Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne, Atlus is finding success in remastering and porting classic games to modern platforms. Fans have expressed a desire to bring Persona games to additional platforms like PC or PlayStation/Xbox, including Persona 3 and Persona 5.
Rumors state that both Persona 3 and Persona 4 are receiving multiplatform releases in 2022. According to notable leaker Zippo, who accurately leaked the release of the Persona 4 Arena Ultimax port, has also stated that the next major anniversary reveal is a remaster of Persona 3 Portable. Persona 3 was a formative game for the franchise, laying the groundwork for Persona as it's known today, but playing the third Persona game becomes a bit difficult without a PS2 or PSP/Vita. A multiplatform remaster, especially if it can solve the dilemma with remastering Persona 3 FES or Persona 3 Portable, would absolutely be welcome by new and returning fans.
Additionally, ever since Persona 4 Golden was ported to PC in 2020, numerous fans have been asking for a console release as well. Persona fans on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch have been consistently asking Atlus for a port, especially since Persona 5 Strikers and the Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne remaster came to PS4 and Switch as well. Especially since Persona 4 Golden sold over one million units on Steam alone, it would make a lot of sense to bring the fourth game to additional platforms.
P4AU May Hint Towards A Persona 5 Fighting Game
For the comparatively niche fighting game community, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax's release is also potentially acting as a gauge for the long-rumored Persona 5 fighting game spin-off. Ever since the massive rise in popularity of Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal in 2020, fans have been theorizing what a Persona 5 fighting game spin-off would be like. Many figured that, since Persona 4 received a generous helping of spin-off games to capitalize on the entry's success, that Persona 5's cast of Phantom Thieves would receive the same treatment. Persona 5 Strikers somewhat proved that immediately, but rumors also state that a Persona 5 fighting game is on the way.
Unlike Persona 3 and Persona 4 proper, a Persona 5 fighting game adaptation has not received a leak/rumor stating it exists quite yet. At this moment, the only evidence of an Arena-style adaptation of Persona 5 existing stems from a web domain renewed by Atlus in 2021. Registered as "P5U.JP," this website borrows a similar nomenclature Atlus has used for Persona 4 Arena previously (P4U), leading many to believe that this could confirm a Persona 5 fighting game is in the works. This web domain is renewed until April 30 of this year, meaning if the domain is renewed beforehand, it could be in development. That or a reveal may be coming in April.
Obviously fighting game fans, especially those who've played and enjoyed Persona 4 Arena previously, would absolutely love to take on the Phantom Thieves in combat. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax was a fairly popular anime fighter in the FGC, so if Atlus is supporting a modern re-release of P4AU, announcing a Persona 5 fighting game spin-off would make a lot of sense as well.
Some Kind of Persona 6 Hint Makes Sense To End On
Of course, with all the pomp and circumstance Atlus is generating for Persona's 25th anniversary, it would make sense that the final one or few reveals are for new games in the Persona franchise. That could be a standalone game set in the Persona universe, or the long-awaited teaser of Persona 6.
Atlus has discussed vague details on the early production of Persona 6 in the past, citing a desire and difficulty in surpassing Persona 5, and living up to fan expectations. There is the possibility that Persona 6 could be teased at the end of the 25th anniversary celebration, though it's hard to expect anything more than that. Persona 6 would ultimately still be in early development, so it wouldn't make sense to expect any kind of substantial gameplay or story reveal at the end of 2022. Atlus has surprised fans before, but given the lengthy development of Persona 5, in tandem with the numerous other potential games coming in 2022, Persona 6 can't be far along in development.
Especially with five anniversary reveals remaining, and working under the assumption that two/three of those are dedicated to remasters, re-releases, and a fighting game spin-off, revealing a new game is expected. As for what form that is, it's hard to say. Some kind of teaser or hint towards Persona 6 is worth expecting, though fans shouldn't expect some kind of blowout trailer. That being said, multiplatform releases of previous Persona games is the perfect way to celebrate the series as a whole, while spin-offs could provide some unique adventures as well. Persona fans have a promising year ahead of them in 2022.
