The Persona series has become a huge hit since Persona 5 came out in 2016.
The game and its various versions, like Royal and Strikers, have sold over 10 million copies by December 2023. Persona 3 Reload, released earlier this year, broke records by selling more than 1 million copies in its first week. Meanwhile, Persona 4, with its 2.5 million copies sold, shows just how much the series has grown.
It’s clear that many people are now paying attention to the Persona series, and this makes Atlus’ current moves really interesting. For the last eight years, they’ve only been making remakes and extra content for their existing games. But some of the key developers left to start a new project, Metaphor: ReFantazio. This makes us wonder what’s next for the Persona team.
I recently got to talk to Kazuhisa Wada, a long-time producer who now leads P-Studio. Our chat was mostly about Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis, but we also touched on the future of the Persona series, possible remakes of Persona 1 and 2, and why they keep making deluxe editions of their games.
GameSpot: Why did the team decide to release Episode Aigis as DLC rather than incorporating it into the base game as Persona 3 FES did?
Wada: FES came out months after Persona 3 and was considered the “complete” version of the game. Episode Aigis was a separate piece of content accessible from the main menu. We thought it made sense to release it as a separate DLC rather than a complete version of Persona 3 Reload. We didn’t have the resources to plan for Episode Aigis ahead of time. Last year, we finally got the team we needed to make it happen, even though we were unsure if we could finish it. But I was determined, and we developed it as DLC.
I’ve always felt that The Answer was an extended metaphor for grief–that it explores how the world seems to stand still and we find ourselves pushing away emotions rather than processing them. What is it like revisiting these themes all these years later, with more life experience?
Rather than focusing on the team’s thoughts, I’m curious about how you and others feel about these themes now, with more life experience. Episode Aigis is crucial to understanding Persona 3 fully, so helping people grasp its themes better is important.
We made some changes to the game to help players understand these themes and move forward from the original ending. We reviewed the scenario and fans’ opinions, making delicate adjustments to better convey the emotional premises. I hope you’ll play the game and give us your honest feedback.
What are the most meaningful changes, both story-wise and in regards to gameplay, in Episode Aigis?
Story-wise, we adjusted the dialogue and added more details about emotions and relationships through linked episodes and dungeon conversations. Gameplay-wise, we added new Theurgy, shifts, and special skills to make dungeon attacks and battles more enjoyable. There are also five difficulty levels to choose from, making the game challenging yet rewarding.
Fans, we always appreciate your feedback as it helps us improve.
We included the Persona Compendium, and any progress can be carried over from the base version of Persona 3 Reload using existing save data. We hope fans enjoy these changes.
What is the most challenging aspect of remaking a game nearly 20 years later?
The hardest part was setting up the project and getting it approved. Then, we had to find the best way to convey the game’s essence and improve its divisive content. Portraying Metis, a character not seen in almost 20 years, was equally challenging but rewarding.
With the inclusion of Episode Aigis, Persona 3 Reload feels like it is the deluxe version of the game yet it is missing an important feature: the female protagonist. Why was she excluded? Will we see her again one day?
Sadly, the female protagonist won’t be added to Persona 3 Reload. We considered it, but it was too difficult and costly to make happen. The development resources required would push the release far into the future. We can’t add new content like a female protagonist unless we do it now while interest is high. I’m really sorry to the fans who hoped for this, but it’s likely never going to happen.
Atlus has a tendency to return to games and release new editions with new features fairly regularly. Why is that? When do you decide to reach a stopping point?
Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal had many expanded features that couldn’t be done as DLC, so they became new games. For Episode Aigis, we’ve ensured the expanded content works as DLC. Moving forward, if the content doesn’t significantly expand the base game, we’ll deliver it in an appropriate format.
As Persona 3 Reload wraps up, are there any plans to remake Persona 1 and Persona 2?
It’s not on my schedule right now. I would like to do it someday.
I know some of the team members have moved on to Metaphor: ReFantazio. How does this impact the future of the Persona series?
Years ago, we wanted to improve our development capacity. Today, talented young and mid-career people are growing through projects like Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Royal. So, if asked about the impact on the future, the answer is “for the better.”
As game developers, we face many issues due to the long and expanded development process. One of the most important things is to pass on the spirit of the game to the next generation. Building an organization that allows this transition naturally is key.
To maintain a sustainable, high-quality series of titles, organizational reform and generational change were necessary. The growth of the Persona series proves we are on the right track. We hope you have even greater expectations of us and our games in the future, so please keep supporting us.
