Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Tactica officially announced

Atlus has officially confirmed the Persona 3 remake during the Xbox Games Showcase. Dubbed Persona 3 Reload, it’s slated to release in Early 2024. At the same time, they have also announced Persona 5 Tactica, which will launch on the more definite date of November 17, 2023. Both will be available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. Given these games aren’t exclusive to Xbox, we might see other platforms included in the future. 

Have a look at the Persona 3 Reload announcement trailer right here:

Dual Persona

The trailer shows us loads of characters, including the protagonist (canonically named Makoto) with his Persona Orpheus, Yukari, Junpei, and the android Aigis. The remake has already impressed fans with its improved graphics, which are closer now to Persona 5’s. All characters and the interface have been redesigned and the in-game maps appear more expansive.  

However, fans have bemoaned the news that Persona 3 Reload will be a straight remake of the original PS2 game. This means that, unlike the Persona 3 Portable version, fans won’t be able to play as the fan-favorite female protagonist, Kotone Shiomi.

As Persona 3 Reload producer Ryota Niitsuma explained it: 

“So first I'd like to mention that since the basic concept of the Persona 3 remake was to remake the Persona 3, we don't have the FES and Portable contents included. We wanted to really genuinely work on recreating the Persona 3 experience.”

Despite this, all the other content may be included in a later version of Persona 3 Reload, as what happened with Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal. We can only hope.

In Persona 3, you play as Makoto (or whatever you want to name the protagonist), who is tasked to join SEES, a group that investigates a nightly phenomenon called the “Dark Hour.” When the Dark Hour arrives, the group can enter and climb a tower filled with enemies called Shadows. To combat the Shadows, they may summon an incarnation of their psyche called Personas, which possess mystical powers. 

During the day, the players attend school, do extracurricular activities, and build up relationships with their team members to the point of romancing one of them.  

Meanwhile, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy RPG spinoff from the main game and features a more cartoonish version of the Persona 5 characters in a Fire Emblem-style turn-based and grid-based combat. Check out the trailer here:

By the looks of things, the Phantom Thieves have been whisked away to a strange world that is oppressed by a tyrannical government. Finding themselves in peril, they are rescued by Erina and the Rebel Corp. The Phantom Thieves must team up with them to free the people and find their way back home.

Persona 3 Reload is coming early next year, while Persona 5 Tactica is coming this November 17 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with possibly more platforms on the way. Keep an eye on our listings for a Persona 3 Reload and a Persona 5 Tactica Xbox key.