The Shocking Revelation of Persona 6's True Identity Hinted in Persona 5 Tactica

Atlus has exciting plans for Persona fans, with new titles set to release before the end of 2023. Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy RPG featuring an art style reminiscent of Persona Q dungeon crawlers, while Persona 3 will receive a remake called Persona 3 Reload in 2024, providing a modern version of the popular PS2 game. Despite the early leak, after three years without new console Persona titles, the upcoming releases are a breath of fresh air for fans. The special treatment given to a Persona entry before P5 is particularly exciting, as Persona 1 and 2 re-releases have been long-awaited. With Persona 5 and its spin-offs dominating the franchise since 2016, the upcoming releases and Persona 5 X mobile game suggest that the Phantom Thieves will continue to be in the spotlight even after the announcement of Persona 6.

Persona 5 Has Become The New Core of Persona's Identity

Since the release of Persona 5, the game has become the focal point of the franchise with numerous spin-off titles, including Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5 Strikers, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, Persona 5: The Phantom X, and now Persona 5 Tactica. This has led fans to speculate about the future of the franchise, with some concerned that the popularity of Persona 5 may take over and compromise the unique identity of future titles, such as Persona 6. Despite the possibility that Persona 6 may already be in development, the steady stream of Persona 5 spin-offs has made this less certain. While Atlus is smart to capitalize on the success of Persona 5, there is a risk that the franchise may become too focused on its popular Phantom Thieves, potentially overshadowing other aspects of the series.

Persona 6 Could Feel Like An Extension Of Persona 5

The Persona franchise shares a unified setting, although this aspect is not highlighted in the numbered entries. However, the franchise does feature small nods to this setting with true crossovers reserved for spin-off titles such as Persona 4 Arena and Persona Q. Each mainline Persona game is largely distinct, with gameplay being the primary element that unifies them. If Atlus decides to keep Persona 5 relevant in Persona 6, it could potentially create complications, given that Persona 5 now has numerous canon sequels. For instance, if the Phantom Thieves were to make an appearance in a future title, it would be instantly noticeable and would have to be handled with care, given their popularity both in and out of the game's universe. It is possible that Persona 6 could reintroduce a familiar character from Persona 5 to assist the new protagonists or follow a similar pattern to Persona 5, where the protagonists gain new outfits from their Personas. However, this may result in Persona 6 losing its unique identity if marketed too heavily with Persona 5 elements.

Persona 5 Tactica will launch November 17 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.