The recent announcement ofPersona 5 Tacticahas added yet another entry to Atlus' list ofPersona 5spin-offs, as the company continues the heyday of the beloved Phantom Thieves cast. While the title looks to be a promising addition to the series' offshoots, its existence may mean the delay, or even loss, of a highly requested spin-off among the series. As the years draw closer toPersona 6’s reveal, the lack of concrete news surrounding a once-rumoredPersona 5 Arenacould mean that it will get kicked to the sidelines in favor of new avenues.
Persona 5continues to hold relevance nearly seven years after its initial release, as its characters and aesthetic have seen a wider range of use beyond the original title. This has translated to the rhythm, musou, gacha, and now tactics genres, as Atlus seeks to expand further from its turn-based formula. While many have been excited to see the Phantom Thieves in these different contexts, the ever-increasing number ofPersona 5spin-offs have left some eager forPersona 6’s reveal. As such, one might wonder whetherTacticawill be the last of its kind before the next mainline game’s announcement.
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Persona 5 Tactica Could Leave Little Room for a Persona 5 Arena
Given the ports ofPersona 4 Arena Ultimax, an all-inclusive fighting game featuring the Phantom Thieves has been a point of great interest among the fanbase, with many having believed it would be featured alongsidethePersonaseries' 25th anniversary celebration. Over a year later, however, the game remains to be seen among the company’s repertoire, with no concrete news or announcements regarding its existence. Though the title could still be a viable next step for Atlus, the existence ofTacticaseems to indicate that such a game wouldn’t be seen for at least another year, if at all.
To add to this, recent leaks have suggested thatAtlus will take a ‘global approach’ to thePersonaIP, with the development of a unique spin-off that features every protagonist across the series' mainline entries. Though this information has not been verified, the rumors surrounding the title, codenamed “Asa,” seem to imply that it will not be anArenagame, but instead a different cooperative experience that works as an homage to thePersonafanbase. Should these rumors be true, thenPersona 5 Arena’s chances of happening are even lower.
Such a stance would be an interesting next step for thePersonaseries' future, as Atlus seems to be increasingly focused on developing the IP’s offshoot games. However, this also begs the question of how well the approach will sustain players' interests, especially if thesePersonaspin-offscontinue for the next few years. One way to make them more versatile would certainly be to include past characters from the series among the Phantom Thieves' adventures, which could make aPersona 5 Arenarelease even more pertinent for the company.
As the stopgaps betweenPersona 5andPersona 6continue, the series' next mainline release feels simultaneously near and far, leaving some fans burnt-out from the Phantom Thieves' appearances. However, ifPersona 5 Tacticaproves to be the last of Atlus’Persona 5based offshoots, then the absence of a newArenagame could leave many disappointed. Given the company’s trending reveals and its proclivity towards spin-offs, it looks like such a title shouldn’t be left completely off the table. As the years go on, it will be interesting to see where Atlus lands next for the IP’s direction.
Persona 5 Tacticais set to release on November 17th for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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