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Persona 5, developed by Atlus, has garnered immense popularity, leading to multiple spin-off titles. One of the latest additions to this lineup is Persona 5 Tactica. While these spin-offs are enjoyable for fans and provide temporary relief as they await Persona 6, the increasing number of spin-offs creates a dilemma regarding the consistency of the Persona 5 timeline. Persona 5 Tactica will mark the seventh game in this subseries, posing a challenge for Atlus to maintain a coherent canon timeline for Persona 5 in the long run.
Aside from the original release of Persona 5, there are other titles that contribute to the timeline's canon, such as Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, Persona 5 Strikers, Persona Q2, Persona 5: The Phantom X, and now Persona 5 Tactica. While some of these games undeniably fit within the timeline's canon, others have a debatable status due to their seemingly contradictory nature. With each new spin-off introduced, the canon of the Persona 5 timeline becomes more intricate and confusing. Consequently, it is imperative for Atlus to eventually limit the number of spin-off releases to simplify the canon.
The Persona 5 Canon is Already a Mess Prior to Persona 5 Tactica
Determining the canon of the Persona 5 timeline involves considering numerous factors that complicate the distinction between entries that align with the series' main canon and those that exist outside of it. One significant factor is the in-game calendar cycle of the Persona series, which establishes a clear timeline for the game's events. The original Persona 5 game spans nearly a year, commencing in April and concluding the following March.
Persona 5 Royal modifies the canon slightly by introducing new characters such as Kasumi Yoshizawa and Takuto Maruki, as well as an additional semester. However, it still adheres to the fundamental timeline, only altering events in the later months of the game. The integration of other Persona 5 spin-offs into this timeline becomes more complex. For instance, Persona Q2 occurs during the casino arc of the main Persona 5 game, while Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight takes place after the conclusion of the main story but before Joker departs from the group.
Persona 5 Strikers, which takes place the following summer, raises questions about the timeline. Certain characters who should logically appear in all games do not appear in Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight and Persona 5 Strikers, even though these games come after their supposed joinings of the Phantom Thieves.
Another question arises: if Persona Q2 events occur during the main game, why are they never discussed by the cast? This suggests that these events take place in a non-canonical time outside the main timeline. The upcoming releases, Persona 5: The Phantom X and Persona 5 Tactica, have yet to reveal their place in the timeline, but clues indicate that Persona 5 Tactica may be set in a separate timeline, similar to Persona Q2.
The presence of characters such as Yoshizawa and Zenkichi, who joined the Phantom Thieves in Persona 5 Strikers, is a key indicator of Persona 5 Tactica's placement within the canon. Although there are rumors that Yoshizawa may be a DLC character, Zenkichi has not been shown in any trailers, implying that Persona 5 Tactica could be set during the events of Persona 5 Strikers before his involvement with the gang.
Persona 5 Tactica is set to be released on November 17th for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
