Persona 5 shattered barriers and revitalized the franchise, paving the way for an array of spin-offs and sequels. The game’s narrative left enough room for expansions, which led to titles like Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5 Royal, and the upcoming Persona 5: The Phantom X. The success of Persona 5 allowed Atlus to continue exploring its world, providing players with fresh perspectives on the Phantom Thieves’ adventures.
By contrast, Persona 3 Reload has a more definitive ending. The original game, along with Persona 3 FES’s expansion The Answer, firmly concludes the protagonist’s story, making it difficult to justify future content beyond what has already been explored. Unlike Persona 5, which left the door open for sequels, the core story of Persona 3 Reload ensures that any additional material would have to fit within its existing framework rather than expand beyond it.
Major spoilers for Persona 3 Reload and its DLC ahead.
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Persona 3 Reload Closes Its Own Doors
The ending of Persona 3 is one of the most final conclusions in the franchise. The protagonist sacrifices themselves to seal away Nyx, preventing the Fall and saving humanity. The Answer doubles down on this conclusion, focusing on the remaining S.E.E.S. members as they grapple with their grief and try to move forward without their leader. The time loop they experience forces them to relive their pain, but ultimately, they accept the protagonist’s fate and break free of the cycle.
This structure does not lend itself to follow-ups in the same way that Persona 5 does. The Phantom Thieves finish their original mission, but the story leaves room for them to reunite for another cause, as seen in Persona 5 Strikers. With Persona 3, the narrative wraps up so definitively that revisiting its characters outside of crossover events feels unnecessary. The game’s somber tone also contrasts sharply with the more adventure-driven nature of Persona 5, making direct sequels or spin-offs less viable.
Persona 3 Has Explored Its Spin-Off Potential
Even though Persona 3 has been revisited in spin-offs like Persona Q, Persona Q2, and Persona 4 Arena, these games primarily explore alternate realities or crossover elements rather than expanding the original narrative. Persona 4 Arena offered some additional development for the Persona 3 cast, but it did so within a larger framework that involved Persona 4’s characters and an entirely different conflict.
Meanwhile, Persona 5 continues to receive new content that builds upon its existing world. Persona 5 Tactica introduces a fresh setting and mechanics while keeping the core cast intact. The sheer number of expansions and spin-offs for Persona 5 speaks to its flexibility as a narrative, something Persona 3 simply does not have.
Persona 6 Could Follow a Different Path
With Persona 3 Reload’s story essentially set in stone, the focus now shifts to Persona 6 and how Atlus will approach its structure. Persona 5’s success with spin-offs could encourage Atlus to design Persona 6 with plenty of room for expansion, but there is also the possibility that Persona 6 will adopt a more contained approach, similar to Persona 3, especially after the remake’s success.
A potential dual-protagonist structure for Persona 6 could influence this direction. If so, it may focus more on replayability rather than follow-ups and sequels. This approach could mitigate the need for multiple spin-offs while still providing longevity for the game through different narrative experiences.
On the other hand, Atlus has received criticism for its tendency to release full-priced expanded editions like Persona 5 Royal. If Persona 6 follows in Persona 5’s footsteps by leaving room for additional content, it could be seen as an attempt to generate more revenue rather than delivering a complete experience at launch. Striking the right balance will be key to ensuring that Persona 6 appeals to both long-time fans and newcomers.
- Released
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February 2, 2024
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
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P-Studio