The Persona fanbase is arguably divided into two main groups right now. One side of the fandom is fresh to the franchise, getting into Persona thanks to the highly popular Persona 5. These fans may not have had the chance to play previous games, but they've fallen in love with the franchise thanks to the Phantom Thieves and they can't wait to see where the franchise goes next. The other major group is the veteran fanbase that's familiar with the previous games. Although they're just as interested in what comes Persona 6 and other future games, many Persona veterans are asking Atlus to look to the past and remake Persona 3.
Although Atlus hasn't said anything one way or another, it actually seems more likely than ever that Persona 3 actually will make a comeback. There's lots of factors adding up that would suggest the 2006 RPG could show up again in 2021. The Persona anniversary alone is already a pretty good reason, but the context of where the Persona franchise is at and where it could be going mean that there's a lot to be gained from a Persona 3 remake. Although it could be a slightly more intensive remake than the recent Persona 4 Golden, it'd be worth it. Persona 3 is a really important game to the franchise and deserves to get a new lease on life.
Persona 3 Could Follow Persona 4's Footsteps
The recent port of Persona 4 Golden to Steam is an obvious but crucial argument that a Persona 3 remake could come up soon. Atlus launched the Persona 4 Golden remaster without any preamble, just suddenly surprising fans. It was immediately met positively as a bit of a polished version of the game that was now available on a much more accessible platform in this day and age than the PS2 and PlayStation Vita. Persona 4 is often placed in contention for one of the best games in the franchise by fans, so with all the publicity that Atlus and Persona have gained in the last few years, it made sense to revive such a strong game.
If Atlus thought to remaster Persona 4, then there's no way it hasn't at least discussed remastering Persona 3. Frankly, it'd feel strange for Persona 4 to come back but now Persona 3. Although they're all very different games thematically, Persona 3 deserves a lot of credit for establishing some of the aesthetic sensibilities and common themes that run through the franchise as fans know it today. Persona's use of bold colors, powerful social elements, and a general distancing from Shin Megami Tensei's grim apocalyptic design can largely be credited to Persona 3, which was a huge turning point in the franchise. In other words, Persona 3 walked so Persona 4 and 5 could run.
The Persona games from Persona 3 onward might tell unrelated stories, but they're closely tied in terms of themes and design. Atlus has found all kinds of ways to tell stories about high-schoolers plunging into the supernatural and harnessing the power of their true selves. Even with the Persona 4 Golden remaster out and reunited with Persona 5, it feels like something is missing. Persona 3 deserves to join its siblings as a high-quality remaster.
Persona 3 Has a Lot to Contribute
There's a few reasons that Persona 3 is worth exploring again right now, for players and Atlus like. Atlus is probably planning Persona 6 right now, and so there's a lot of big questions about what the game is going to look like. Many fans are expecting a game that's a lot like Persona 5, considering how much publicity it drummed up. However, Atlus might not actually want something very close to Persona 5 in spite of its popularity. The Persona 4 Golden remaster might have been done partially so that Atlus could test the game with a wider audience and see what it can learn from new Persona fans. There might be elements of all the previous Persona games that Atlus wants to mix and match in order to make Persona 6 the sum of many good parts. If that's the case, then it'll probably release a Persona 3 remaster to test it with new players too.
The new fans of Persona also have a lot to gain from playing Persona 3. Persona 5's new fans would be glad to play previous games, but they're not very accessible, since both Persona 3 and 4 were PS2 titles. Fans want to scratch the Persona 5 itch, and the best thing that can do that short of a new Persona game is another remaster of the earlier games. Atlus knows that the fanbase will jump on a remastered Persona 3 because Persona 4 Golden already proved it. All in all, tons of good reasons are converging on one another for Atlus to remaster Persona 3 right now. Atlus has knowledge to gain from it as well as a tidy profit, fans want to experience it, and it'd be a worthy way to celebrate the Persona anniversary that's this year.
Atlus' Mysterious Persona Plans
That Persona anniversary is really hanging over Atlus' head right now. It seems like Atlus would've jumped on the remaster by now, but so far, Persona 5 Strikers' international release is the only thing that's come out to celebrate 2021. While fans were excited to hear last year that Atlus has big plans for Persona, that excitement is turning into a bit of anxiety considering how quiet Atlus has been. It's also nice to hear things like Atlus' future plans for worldwide releases, but that's hardly the deluge of actual new games that players expected out of Persona's 25th birthday.
Atlus' plans aren't necessarily waylaid just because they're not public, though. If anything, no news is good news. Atlus is probably just biding its time so it can spread the news out over the course of the year. No matter how Atlus handles its plans, though, it seems very likely that Persona 3's return is among them. There's so many people out there who want to play it, there's a lot of reasons that Atlus should look at it again, and it'd bring Persona 3, 4, and 5 together again in the current generation of the game industry. Atlus is keenly aware of all these things. The Persona 4 Golden remaster was a surprise, but if anything, it's starting to feel like it was just prelude for Persona 3's comeback.
Persona 3 is available now on PS2 and PSP.