Persona 6hasn’t been formally revealed, although Atlus has confirmed it is in development, and it is still currently one of the most anticipated JRPGs on the market. This can be attributed in large part to the success ofPersona 5. Until the release ofP5,Personawas a niche series that enjoyed a cult following. Its unique blend of dating and social simulator mechanics is tightly integrated with its RPG elements;Persona 5excelled at providing a cohesive experience tied together with flashy visuals.P5launched the series into the limelight, and fans began to speculate immediately about a sequel. WhilePersona 6is in development, it will still be a while before it’s ready. This is something that Atlus can take advantage of because 2026 would be the perfect year to releaseP6.
Atlus is best known for thePersonafranchise, but the company has a plethora of other games that have been released recently, and even more are coming out in 2024. This year saw the release of remasters for the originalEtrian Odysseytrilogy, and next year, Atlus is releasingUnicorn Overlord, atactical RPG with similarities to13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. On top of other franchises, thePersonaseries receives plenty of spin-offs.Persona 5 Tacticawas just released last month, and at least one more spin-off is currently in production.Persona 6may be the most anticipated game from Atlus, but it is certainly not the only one to be excited about.
2024 is a Stacked Year for Atlus
On top ofUnicorn Overlord, Atlus has two other major games announced for 2024: the remakePersona 3 ReloadandMetaphor: ReFantazio,a new title from the creators of the third, fourth, and fifthPersonagames.Persona 3 Reloadmay not be an entirely new game, but many recent fans of the series haven’t played the original game, so 2024 already has a new mainlinePersonatitle for the majority of its fan base.Metaphor: ReFantazioshares a lot of mechanics with thePersonafranchiseand is one of 2024’s most anticipated original games. Even ifPersona 6was ready for a 2024 release, it would be unwise for Atlus to release it next year as it would take attention away fromMetaphor.
2024 Has Other Persona Content
Persona 5: The Phantom Xis set for release in 2024, though its release outside of China is unconfirmed. Rumors have suggested thatP5Xcould come to the West, or at least other parts of Asia, further saturating 2024 with games from Atlus. AMario Party-stylePersonaspin-off is also rumored to be in development. With the wealth ofPersonagames and other similar titles scheduled for 2024, there will be plenty to keep fans busy well into the already-packed 2025. GivingMetaphorandP3Rtime to breathe and potentially grow with DLC in 2025 would make sense for Atlus.
2026 is Persona’s 30th Anniversary
Furthermore, 2026 will mark the 30th anniversary of thePersonaseries, and there would be no better way to celebrate than with the release of a new mainline title. Many of the creative minds behind the last threePersonagames have moved on toMetaphor: ReFantazio, soP6will likely reinvent numerous aspects of the series. Because of this,Persona 6will be a turning point for the franchise, so releasing it on a major anniversary would let it be both a celebration of the series' legacy and a fitting way to usher in its next chapter.
2026 would be the perfect time to releasePersona 6. The game is hotly anticipated, and releasing it then would be a grand celebration of the series' 30th anniversary. 2026 is also, fittingly, the 10th anniversary ofPersona 5. This release window would allow other significant releases from Atlus to have their own time to shine and allowMetaphor: ReFantazioandPersona 3 ReloadDLCto release without being overshadowed should Atlus desire to expand either title. 2026 may seem like a long time to wait, but it’s the year that makes the most sense forPersona 6.
