ThePersonafanbase is arguably divided into two main groups right now. One side of the fandom is fresh to the franchise, getting intoPersonathanks to the highly popularPersona 5. These fans may not have had the chance to play previous games, but they’ve fallen in love with the franchise thanks to the Phantom Thieves and they can’t wait to see where the franchise goes next. The other major group is the veteran fanbase that’s familiar with the previous games. Although they’re just as interested in what comesPersona 6and other future games, manyPersonaveterans are asking Atlus to look to the past and remakePersona 3.
Although Atlus hasn’t said anything one way or another, it actually seems more likely than ever thatPersona 3actually will make a comeback. There’s lots of factors adding up that would suggest the 2006 RPG could show up again in 2021. ThePersonaanniversary alone is already a pretty good reason, but the context of where thePersonafranchise is at and where it could be going mean that there’s a lot to be gained from aPersona 3remake. Although it could be a slightly more intensive remake than the recentPersona 4 Golden,it’d be worth it.Persona 3is a really important game to the franchise and deserves to get a new lease on life.
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Persona 3 Could Follow Persona 4’s Footsteps
The recentport ofPersona 4 Goldento Steamis an obvious but crucial argument that aPersona 3remake could come up soon. Atlus launched thePersona 4 Goldenremaster without any preamble, just suddenly surprising fans. It was immediately met positively as a bit of a polished version of the game that was now available on a much more accessible platform in this day and age than the PS2 and PlayStation Vita.Persona 4is often placed in contention for one of the best games in the franchise by fans, so with all the publicity that Atlus andPersonahave gained in the last few years, it made sense to revive such a strong game.
If Atlus thought to remasterPersona 4,then there’s no way it hasn’t at least discussed remasteringPersona 3.Frankly, it’d feel strange forPersona 4to come back but nowPersona 3.Although they’re all very different games thematically,Persona 3deserves a lot of credit for establishing some of the aesthetic sensibilities and common themes that run through the franchise as fans know it today.Persona’s use of bold colors, powerful social elements, and a general distancing fromShin Megami Tensei’s grim apocalyptic designcan largely be credited toPersona 3,which was a huge turning point in the franchise. In other words,Persona 3walked soPersona 4and5could run.
ThePersonagames fromPersona 3onward might tell unrelated stories, but they’re closely tied in terms of themes and design. Atlus has found all kinds of ways to tell stories about high-schoolers plunging into the supernatural and harnessing the power of their true selves. Even with thePersona 4 Goldenremaster out and reunited withPersona 5, it feels like something is missing.Persona 3deserves to join its siblingsas a high-quality remaster.
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Persona 3 Has a Lot to Contribute
There’s a few reasons thatPersona 3is worth exploring again right now, for players and Atlus like. Atlus is probably planningPersona 6right now, and so there’s a lot of big questions about what the game is going to look like. Many fans are expecting a game that’s a lot likePersona 5,considering how much publicity it drummed up. However, Atlus might not actually want something very close toPersona 5in spite of its popularity. ThePersona 4 Goldenremaster might have been done partially so that Atlus could test the game with a wider audience and see what it can learn from newPersonafans. There might be elements of all the previousPersonagames that Atlus wants to mix and matchin order to makePersona 6the sum of many good parts. If that’s the case, then it’ll probably release aPersona 3remaster to test it with new players too.
The new fans ofPersonaalso havea lot to gain from playingPersona 3.Persona 5’s new fans would be glad to play previous games, but they’re not very accessible, since bothPersona 3and4were PS2 titles. Fans want to scratch thePersona 5itch, and the best thing that can do that short of a newPersonagame is another remaster of the earlier games. Atlus knows that the fanbase will jump on a remasteredPersona 3becausePersona 4 Goldenalready proved it. All in all, tons of good reasons are converging on one another for Atlus to remasterPersona 3right now. Atlus has knowledge to gain from it as well as a tidy profit, fans want to experience it, and it’d be a worthy way to celebrate thePersonaanniversary that’s this year.
Atlus' Mysterious Persona Plans
ThatPersonaanniversary is really hanging over Atlus' head right now. It seems like Atlus would’ve jumped on the remaster by now, but so far,Persona 5 Strikers' international release is the only thing that’s come out to celebrate 2021. While fans were excited to hear last year that Atlus has big plans forPersona,that excitement is turning into a bit of anxiety considering how quiet Atlus has been. It’s also nice to hear things likeAtlus' future plans for worldwide releases, but that’s hardly the deluge of actual new games that players expected out ofPersona’s 25th birthday.
Atlus' plans aren’t necessarily waylaid just because they’re not public, though. If anything, no news is good news. Atlus is probably just biding its time so it can spread the news out over the course of the year. No matter how Atlus handles its plans, though, it seems very likely thatPersona 3’s return is among them. There’s so many people out there who want to play it, there’s a lot of reasons that Atlus should look at it again, and it’dbringPersona 3, 4,and5together againin the current generation of the game industry. Atlus is keenly aware of all these things. ThePersona 4 Goldenremaster was a surprise, but if anything, it’s starting to feel like it was just prelude forPersona 3’s comeback.
Persona 3is available now on PS2 and PSP.
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