Unveiling the Ultimate Persona 5 Tactica: Prepare for Game-Changing DLC!

Persona 5 Tactica has been officially announced, raising questions about where it fits into the Persona series canon. The game introduces a new world, featuring a regal setting and tactics-based gameplay, bringing back the Phantom Thieves. It is unclear at this point where it falls in the Persona 5 timeline, as the trailer suggests the characters are still attending Shujin Academy, but Lavenza's presence as the Velvet Room attendant implies that the spin-off takes place towards the end of the original story.

This leads to speculation about the rumored DLC for Persona 5 Tactica. Leaks suggest that Kasumi Yoshizawa and Goro Akechi will be available as downloadable content, as their in-game portraits have been revealed. However, there is no concrete evidence to confirm this information. Akechi's potential appearance could create a confusing narrative, as the leaked portrait shows him in his initial Crow attire, instead of the outfit he wears during his boss fight against the Phantom Thieves. This implies that the game occurs before the revelation in Shido's palace, which contradicts Lavenza's presence.

Akechi's Rumored Appearance in Persona 5 Tactica's DLC Could Have Interesting Implications if Canon

If Persona 5 Tactica's story is considered canon and takes place after Shido's palace, it suggests that Akechi is still alive despite the struggle with his cognitive self. This could be related to the surreal reality depicted in Persona 5 Royal, although the character's true fate has never been explicitly stated, only hinted at. If the rumored DLC is Atlus' way of definitively addressing Akechi's survival, it may be an unconventional approach.

Handling Akechi's character in a spin-off DLC rather than as a central element in the main game could be seen as a missed opportunity. Considering the important role he played in the original storyline, relegating him to a secondary role in the spin-off might disappoint fans. Although the DLC may have a substantial narrative component, its separation from the main game would result in some players missing out on its content. Given the tendency of Persona 5 spin-offs to reference the original title, sidelining the character may be difficult for fans to accept.

There is a possibility that Goro Akechi and Yoshizawa have been included in the game primarily for combat purposes rather than for their relevance to the main story. This goes against the usual approach to characterization in Persona spin-offs, especially considering that Yoshizawa has never appeared in one before. It is even stranger that they have been kept behind DLC instead of being integrated into the main cast and story. However, one could argue that their narratives might take away from Tactica's central plot.

Additionally, it is possible that Tactica may not follow a canon storyline and instead focus on telling an alternate story that deviates from the original game's timeline. If this is the case, Akechi's supposed death may not be addressed at all, which could disappoint some who are looking for concrete evidence about his fate. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how Tactica handles its rumored DLC and portrayal of the tragic Persona 5 anti-hero.

Persona 5 Tactica is set to release on November 17, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.