When players think of thePersonaseries, they think of one of the most popular JRPGs of all time.Personahas always been praised for its unique concept, combined with fully fleshed-out characters, incredible music, and stylish art style, and it has been described as being an anime, manga, and JRPG in one complete package.
For the most part, thePersonaseries has made its mark on PlayStation consoles, with the first game releasing for the original PlayStation console in 1996. Since thenJRPGs have exploded in the west, and thePersonaseries has received several more mainline installments with numerous spin-offs. Slowly,Personahas been branching out to more platforms, including PC and Nintendo Switch, but nowPersonacould be coming to mobile devices with a mysterious new title,Code Name: X.
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What is Code Name: X?
The official information aboutCode Name: Xconfirms that it is the first mobile game for a “famous Japanese console game series,” but no one has confirmed yet which series that is. Game analyst Daniel Ahmad tweeted that Code Name: X was confirmed to bebased on thePersonaseries, however. He’s not a developer, but he was one of the first to share the announcement trailer. At this point, it is technically still a rumor because it hasn’t been officially confirmed. However, there don’t seem to be any other good options or leads.
With only one short reveal trailer, it’s hard to say what the gameplay will look like forCode Name: X,but players can be assured that the game will be beautiful. The mobile title is usingnew technology to recreate a beautiful version of Shibuyaand claims that it will improve upon graphics used in the main console series. For Chinese gamers, it’s definitely one to keep an eye on, and with any luck,Code Name: Xwill eventually expand its reach to the rest of the world.
Code Name: Xis officially a JRPG for mobile devices, published by Perfect World Entertainment. So far, it looks like it will only be available for download in China, and the story is unclear. The reveal trailer teases a hacking mechanic headed by a female character, and shows a young man traversing the iconic Shibuya square.
Everything We Know About Code Name: X’s Characters
Both of these characters are presumed to be completely new, so although he may appear similar, the young man in the trailer isn’tPersona 5’s Joker, even if the game is based onPersona.Their ages don’t line up, with Joker being 16 inPersona 5and this new character being 15. However, according to the new character’s bio, they do seem to have a lot in common. The new character is an ordinary high school student with a dark past,not unlikePersona 5’sJoker. The character bio indicates that the mysterious young man will choose a path of innovation whereas those around him must choose between order and chaos.
There is a little more information about the female character inCode Name: X.Her name is Rukawa Yuki, and she’s older than the protagonist by two years. There’s nothing that specifically connects her toPersona,but her character bio describes her as someone with a strong sense of justice, and a background as a legal practitioner for the Jidao family. Yuki will definitely be an ally of the protagonist, but her specific role hasn’t been completely revealed yet.
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All the Evidence That Code Name: X is Related to Persona
Code Name: Xis almost definitely related toPersona.There’s a lot ofevidence surroundingCode Name: Xthat points towardsPersona,even though it hasn’t been confirmed by an official announcement. Perhaps Perfect World Entertainment has decided it doesn’t need to make a huge announcement becauseCode Name: X’sinspiration seems clear.
The music and the art style are instantly reminiscent of thePersonaseries, and most are quite convinced thatPersonais the “famous Japanese console game series"referenced. To narrow it down even further,Code Name: Xseems like it will take place in thePersona 5universe. Fans have pointed out Iwai’s model gun shop, Airsoft, being visible inCode Name: X’strailer. That small detail alone all but confirms thatCode Name: Xis set inPersona 5’sversion of Tokyo.
Other fans have found that some of the file names associated withCode Name: Xon the official website reference “P5.” IfCode Name: Xsomehow wasn’trelated toPersona 5,there would be some concerning issues with the many references and similarities. It’s pretty safe to assume thatPersonais the console series inspiring the mobile game. There’s no real alternative argument, and the more that comes out aboutCode Name: X, the clearer it becomes. Even the verbiage used in the two character bios is reminiscent of something from thePersonaseries, and the female character appears to already have a Metaverse look.
The only thing that stands out as being a little strange is the omission of “Persona” fromCode Name: X’stitle. Most, if not all,Personagames have the series title before the secondary title, so that could be why some are reluctant to say with 100% certainty thatCode Name: Xis directly related toPersona.It’s also not clear how and whenCode Name: Xwouldfit into thePersona 5universe and timeline, so there’s still a lot to be revealed about this intriguing title.
A Mobile Game is a Natural Addition to the Persona 5 Series
ThePersona 5base game is an extremely popular JRPG exclusive to PlayStation 4 consoles (although there arerumors of aPersona 5Xbox port), and the title has gotten its fair share of spin-offs.Persona 5was released in 2016 and won Best RPG at the 2017 Game Awards. From there, its popularity has only grown.
Persona 5was followed byPersona 5 Royalin 2019, an enhancedre-release of the original game, as well as a sequel calledPersona 5 Strikersin 2020.Persona 5 Dancing in Starlightis a rhythmic game that released in 2018, and the list goes on from there. In comparison to existing spin-off titles, it’s actually strange thatPersona 5doesn’t have a mobile game yet.
2021 marks the 25th anniversary of thePersonaseries, so there should be some other celebratory announcements later this year, but it’s the perfect time to release a related mobile game. ThePersonaseries has always been known for its distinct style and level of polish, and the traditional turn-based combat lends itself well to mobile devices. It’s too soon to say whether or not the game will be a success, but video games in general are starting to move more towards having mobile spin-offs/options.
Mobile games actuallymake up a majority of the gaming industry, and smartphones are much more common than in-home consoles or custom-built PCs. While mobile games are usually for a more casual audience, that is changing and the importance of mobile games can’t be underestimated. For something likePersona,a mobile game works into the existing format seamlessly, and expands the franchise’s reach to a larger audience. The timing and the rationale are all there, and while fans aren’t sure yet howCode Name: Xfits intoPersonajust yet, it will definitely have a role to play in the franchise’s future.
Code Name: Xis confirmed to release on mobile devices in China.
