Summary
Persona 3 Reloadis set to release early next year, and Atlus’ latest RPG has the potential to make the thirdPersonaas popular as the fifth. Launched into the wider mainstream of gaming withPersona 5, the spin-off series ofShin Megami Tenseihad been around for two decades before landing the studio its biggest hit yet. Expected to bring the game that started the modern formula into the current generation, the upcoming launch ofPersona 3 Reloadcould have bigger implications for the future of the series.
The entry that firmly established the franchise’s aesthetic around its balance of turn-based battles and dating simulation,Persona 3was a fondly remembered relic of a game prior to the announcement ofReload. Ubiquitous with the series,Persona 5has instead dominated its predecessors ever since it earned its spot in the mainstream.ThePersonaseriesis in a golden era in terms of honoring its past and present alike, but there’s one major title that has been somewhat forgotten amidst the fanfare.
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Persona 4 Used to Be the Face of the Franchise
Persona 5may be the first thing most fans think of when the series comes up, butPersona 4was the defining game of its kind for years before that. Released just two years after the originalPersona 3, it would essentially improve upon everything that was loved about the first while transitioning into a more upbeat atmosphere. For the better part of ten years,Persona 4was the identity and image of the series, an influential period that still ripples into today for fans of the era.
Spin-offs of the most recentPersonadon’t seem to be stopping anytime soon, but those releases don’t quite stack up toPersona 4’s legacy. While it has received thePersona QandDancing All Nighttreatments that are typical for the major entries,Persona 4 Arenashowed the true strength of the game’s cast. A sequel that continued the story years after the initial title,Persona 4 Arena Ultimaxwas even updated with rollback netcode last year, making it a fighting game basically on par with the most competitive. Relevant enough to have this much of an impact after 15 years, an upcoming release window offers a great opportunity forPersona 4’s comeback.
Persona 4 Remake’s Potential to Play Off of Persona 6
By bringing the world ofPersona 3into a game with the technical fidelity thatPersona 5featured, Atlus has managed to successfully update the older entry while helping to establish a more cohesive identity for the series. Expected to succeed in and out of Xbox Game Pass, Reload could create the prime environment forPersona 6to thrive within. Continuing this path by releasingPersona 4’s remake next could effectively create a new release cycle for Atlus that keeps the entire franchise fresh. With its noticeably lower visual presentation fidelity, the fourth game’s update will ultimately be necessary to bridge the gap between modern experiences.
Persona 6’s mysterious scenario could see it leaving the high school setting behind, and an eventual return to Inaba could be the perfect balance. As Persona 3 Reload as committed to honoring the past, rumors ofremakes forPersona 1andPersona 2’s duology have even given hope to fans of the most forgotten games in the series. Whether Atlus chooses to go toPersona 4or even further back, the decision to remake one of its franchise-defining classics is still likely to be remembered as one of its best.
Persona 3 Reloadreleases July 12, 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
