Summary
As if the publisher’s slate of releases in 2023 wasn’t already impressive, 2024 is shaping up to be a banner year for Atlus and itsPersonafranchise. The highly anticipated remake ofPersona 3,Persona 3 Reload, is set to release in early 2024, and Atlus' strategy and tactics hybrid in collaboration with developer Vanillaware,Unicorn Overlord, arrives just a few weeks later. Perhaps the most interesting game in Atlus' release calendar for 2024 is its upcoming new IP from the team behindPersonaandShin Megami Tensei,Metaphor: ReFantazio, and its release date couldn’t be better-timed.
Since its initial reveal earlier in the year,Metaphor: ReFantaziohas continued to look like a promising new entry into Atlus' library of RPG franchises, and the recent extended trailer premiering at The Game Awards 2023 only served to stoke the flames of anticipation for the game’s release. Even though a concrete release date hasn’t been announced, the recent trailer revealed that the game is aiming for a fall 2024 launch. Not only does a projected fall release help positionMetaphor: ReFantazioas one of 2024’s later highlights, but it’s the perfect stopgap between the release ofPersona 3 Reloadedand the as-yet-unannouncedPersona 6.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is Set to Be a Perfect Halfway Point to Persona 6’s Release
Hot on the heels of this year’s excellentPersona 5 Tactica, thePersonaseries is getting a major reimagining of one of the most beloved entries in the franchise withFebruary’sPersona 3 Reload.Ahead ofPersona 3 Reload’s release, the game continues to look impressive with the way that it takes the setting and characters of the PSP classic and reinvents them using the slick presentation and eye-popping visuals ofPersona 5. What’s less known at this point, though, is where the next mainline game in the franchise stands in terms of Atlus' future release schedule.
A recent leak purported to reveal that Atlus hasPersona 6projected for a 2025 releasedate, and even though Atlus itself hasn’t made any official announcements, it’s not far-fetched to imagine the game not releasing in 2024. Without an official reveal arriving before the end of 2023, there’s not likely to be any new information or an official announcement ofPersona 6until later in 2024. However, what is known is what Atlus has planned for fall 2024, roughly 6 months after the release ofPersona 3 Reload.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s projected fall release puts it almost exactly at the halfway point between the release ofPersona 3 Reloadand the rumored release ofPersona 6in 2025. And, with the game’s many obvious similarities to thePersonaseries evident in the trailers and footage revealed for the game up to this point, it’s shaping up to be the exact kind of holdover that thePersonaseries spin-offstraditionally are. Whether this means that players have seen the last of thePersona 5spin-offs remains to be seen, but it could be the sign of Atlus shifting gears ahead of the next major release in its social-sim-RPG juggernaut.
Metaphor: ReFantaziois just different enough from thePersonagames in some ways, yet similar enough in others, for it to whet the appetites of fans without allowing fatigue for the franchise to set in ahead ofPersona 6. And, with the timing of its release date, it certainly helps to give some credence to the idea that players will see an officialannouncement ofPersona 6next year and have a 2025 release date to look forward to. In addition to it being an exciting new IP from a much-loved publisher,Metaphor: ReFantaziois bridging the gap forPersona 6hype.
Persona 3 Reload
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever.Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era.Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI. Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes, character interactions, and additional voiceover. Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters. Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
