The highly anticipated release of Persona 3 Reload marks a new chapter for developer Atlus as the company eyes potential remakes of the first two games in the Persona series. Kazuhisa Wada, the series producer, has indicated that revisiting Persona 1 and Persona 2 could be in the cards, as the organisation continues its journey through its library of high school, demon-battling, dual-life simulation titles.
Following the launch of Persona 3 Reload this year, Atlus is gearing up to debut Persona 4 Revival in February 2024. Alongside these new iterations, Atlus is considering tapping into even older entries in the series. Wada mentioned in a conversation with RPS that the notion to remake Persona 3 and Persona 4 arose simultaneously. Despite Persona 4 requiring a delay, the overarching ambition for both projects remained constant.
Preserving Gaming History
Wada stressed the importance of “cultural preservation” through remasters or remakes, a sentiment that applies to the potential rejuvenation of Persona 1 and 2. According to him, Atlus bears the responsibility to ensure that its past creations remain accessible and relevant in today’s gaming landscape. These games, uniquely, are the only ones in the core franchise not available on contemporary platforms, highlighting their potential revival’s importance.
Origin and Future Prospects
The series’ evolution took a significant turn with Persona 3, which introduced trademark elements such as social interactions and dating mechanics. Its remake, hence, was a fitting starting point for this venture, especially considering its narrative does not include any controversial figures like the rumoured antagonist from the original game, which closely resembled a reincarnation of Hitler.
Speculation about remakes of Persona 1 and 2 has been circulating for years, bolstered by a prior report from a Sega insider pointing to these projects in development alongside the then-unconfirmed Persona 4 remake. However, the extent of changes in these potential remakes remains unspecified. As Atlus progresses with its remake initiative, fans can look forward to experiencing refreshed narratives and mechanics of the revered series classics.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.