Trailers for two new Persona titles – which were heavily rumoured to be part of the Xbox Games Showcase – have leaked via publisher Atlus' own official Instagram account
A Persona 3 Remake has been one of the worst kept secrets, with footage leaking out alongside a Jet Set Radio reboot earlier this year, and it's reveal set in stone for the Xbox and Starfield Showcase during Summer Game Fest. At least it was, until the official Atlus West Instagram account leaked trailers for it and an also-rumoured Persona 5 Tactics spinoff after the Summer Game Fest Opening Showcase last night, where a Marvel's Spider-Man 2 release date was revealed.
I imagine someone over at Atlus got confused between Xbox Game Showcase and Summer Game Fest Opening Showcase and accidentally hit post on the trailer – an unfortunate mistake.
The trailers show off Persona 3 Reload – a remake of the original 2006 entry which introduced mechanics to the series that were expanded on in the more popular sequels Persona 4 and Persona 5, using the Persona 5 engine. As well as Persona 5 Tactica which takes on the Chibi character designs seen in the Persona Q spinoffs and adapts the series' mechanics to the type of tactics gameplay seen in games like Fire Emblem.
Not only did we get a look at these new titles but we got confirmation that not only would both games be arriving on Xbox and PC, but they will be a part of Xbox Game Pass. The titles will likely come to PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch also considering a similar announcement last year of ports of Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal were announced just for Xbox and PC at the Microsoft event before being confirmed for other platforms a couple of days later.
Persona 5 Tactica is set to arrive first on November 17, 2023, while Persona 3 Reload is slated for 'early 2024'. Both trailers have predictably been deleted from the Instagram account but as we've learned from countless leaks so far once something is out there, it's hard to get it hidden again, especially with Reddit sleuths around.
Mass Destruction
Persona 3 is a game that arguably does not have a definitive version available. Persona 3 FES has the 3D models and explorable overworld, as well as The Answer (an expansion to the games ending), while Persona 3 Portable released after FES and has the ability to control your party members and a alternate female playable character (who is apparently unlikely to return according to leakers), but is missing The Answer.
So as someone who has been desperate to play Persona 3 due to loving Persona 4 and 5 so much, this news has made me extremely happy. Plus, the trailer seems to make it look like Tartarus is getting an upgrade from being the same bland hallways and being more in-line with the Persona 5 visual style, which is always a plus.
Persona 5 Tactica is a bit less exciting. As someone who loves a good old Tactics spinoff, I'm certainly hyped for it, but Persona spinoff storylines have a bit of a reputation for falling short of the main entries. I'm sure it'll be a fun time regardless (and it sounds like we're getting more vocal tracks from Lyn Inaizumi which automatically slots Persona 5 Tactica into the soundtrack of the year category).
However, I am now concerned for the Xbox and Starfield Showcase which has just lost what I imagine would be two of the biggest reveals at the show. Obviously people will be psyched for Starfield, but considering Xbox has historically struggled with Japanese games, a Persona 3 remake is a huge deal. Hopefully Phil and the gang have a few more surprises up their sleeves, but this is a big blow to their showcase.
