The Persona series is celebrating a huge milestone: September 2021 marked Persona’s 25th Anniversary. As a result, series publisher Atlus is hosting a huge celebration for series fans, ranging from last September all the way through this September. As the most recent Persona 5 is one of the most successful JRPGs in recent years, many fans are tuned in, in the hopes of exciting news.
From the end of last year, there have been some announcements to make fans happy, ranging from re-releases of old games to merchandise drops. While this is a nice bonus, fans have really been after a sequel to Persona 5, or at least the previous entries on newer consoles. Maybe fans have set their expectations a little too high with the anniversary celebration, but the announcements so far have been a little disappointing. That being said, it is only April, and the official Persona 25th Anniversary website still teases more to come.
Persona’s 25th Anniversary Celebration As of Now
As of April 2022, there have been a handful of announcements to help celebrate Persona’s 25th anniversary. There has been an exclusive Atlus store merch drop, containing clothing items, mugs, posters and more, as well as an ever exciting bundle of digital wallpapers to download. All jokes aside, one of the most exciting releases is the Deluxe Vinyl Box Set.
This set contains 15 vinyl records which hold more than 8.5 hours of music from all the Persona games. On top of this, it comes in a beautifully designed box, with new artwork for all the games in the series. Although the box set is pricey at $400, it is a must-have for Persona fan vinyl collectors, as the Persona series’ soundtracks are some of the most beloved across all gaming.
The most recent anniversary celebration marks the release of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Steam. This is a treat for both Persona fans and fans of fighting games, as Arena Ultimax was previously only available on the PS3/360 era of consoles, and it is developed by Arc System Works of Guilty Gear fame. The game itself is a spin-off/sequel to the storyline of Persona 4, so it is exciting that modern Persona fans now have the opportunity to play it. That being said, Arena Ultimax’s release ties in with one of the bigger disappointments with this anniversary celebration.
The Mysterious Case of Persona 4 on Modern Consoles
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax’s release on modern consoles is very exciting, though it stings that the original Persona 4 (or the upgraded version of Persona 4 Golden) still remain unavailable on modern consoles. A sliver of hope was given to fans back in June of 2020, when Persona 4 Golden was actually made available on Steam, though that hope has not amounted to much yet. Persona 4 Golden is arguably the best game in the Persona franchise, so a return to its PlayStation home would be great.
The announcement of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax’s re-release left fans hopeful once again. Atlus’ official website advertises the Midnight Channel Collection, which gives players not only Arena Ultimax, but a discount code for Persona 4 Golden on Steam. This Collection was also advertised for PS4 shortly after the website went live, but it was seemingly an oversight and taken down soon after.
Fans hoped that this website error was an accidental preview at Persona 4 Golden’s release on PS4, but Arena Ultimax’s release date of March 16 has come and gone with no indication of anything else coming with it. There are still five more months remaining in the big 25th anniversary celebration, and a modern Persona 4 Golden release is but one announcement that fans hope to see.
Hopes for the Remainder of Persona’s Anniversary Celebration
Persona 4 Golden is just one game that fans would love the opportunity to easily replay, but a re-release of some other entries like Persona 3 would be just as exciting. Persona 3’s release itself is a little divisive, as the main version and expanded Persona 3 FES lack the ability to control party members like some of the newer titles. The PSP release, Persona 3 Portable, allows players to do so, but lacks the story expansions of FES, as well as the ability to walk around and explore the overworld. A fully modernized Persona 3 that combines the best from all its versions would be a great announcement.
Some more Persona 5 love would be appreciated, specifically a release on Nintendo Switch. Persona 3 and Persona 4 have both come to handhelds through the PSP and Vita, so bringing Persona 5 on the go with the Switch is the perfect opportunity — especially when its spin-off, Persona 5 Strikers is already available on the console.
Lastly, of course, is the hope for a Persona 6 announcement. Persona 5 is already five years old at this point, so this would be a fantastic way to cap off the anniversary. There is an eight-year gap between Persona 4 and Persona 5’s 2008 and 2016 releases, so seeing a new game any time soon may sound unlikely. Though, Persona 5 was first announced in 2013, three years before release, so there is a glimmer of hope at even gaining a confirmation that Persona 6 is on the way.
Persona’s 25th anniversary celebration has been an exciting time for fans of the series. While the announcements so far range from disappointing to somewhat exciting, there are still a few months of potential surprises to come.
