Even though it's probably years away from release, the legacy of the Phantom Thieves already hangs over Persona 6. The next mainline installation in the series has to tell a story on the same par as Persona 5's gripping story of teenage rebellion and individuality, introducing new characters who are just as compelling as the Phantom Thieves. At the same time, Atlus has to decide if Persona 6 will have a stronger connection to its predecessor than most Persona games do. Although Persona games generally stand on their own two feet, considering how much Persona 5 has done for the franchise, Persona 6 might want to acknowledge Persona 5 directly.

If Atlus does want to establish a narrative tie between the two games, then there's one strong way to do that. Goro Akechi could appear as a supporting NPC in Persona 6, traveling with a new party of Persona users and teaching them about their powers while avoiding his own complicated past. Thanks to Persona 5 Royal's true ending, Akechi's reemergence in future games seems more likely than ever. Persona 6 might be the perfect opportunity to examine his life after Persona 5 and celebrate the legacy of the Phantom Thieves in the Persona franchise. With Goro Akechi's help, the Phantom Thieves can leave a lasting impact on Persona 6's story without taking control of the narrative. Warning: Persona 5 Royal spoilers ahead!

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Why Goro Akechi Could Return

persona 5 figma akechi and joker

Persona 5 leaves Goro Akechi's ultimate fate dubious but grim, but Persona 5 Royal suggests something very different. In one of Persona 5's last Palaces, Goro Akechi sacrifices himself to save the Phantom Thieves from Shido's minions, marking a sudden turn in his role as a traitor to Joker and his companions. While that's meant to be the last players see of him, in Persona 5 Royal, he returns during the third semester to help Joker defeat Takuto Maruki and free reality from Maruki's control. Akechi disappears again at the end of this story arc, with Maruki having suggested that he brought Akechi back to life, but players who get the true ending see a post-credits cutscene that suggests Akechi is very much alive.

Since Atlus has already created the possibility that Akechi is alive, it simply has to figure out what he's doing after the events of Persona 5 Royal in order to integrate him into Persona 6. It wouldn't be surprising if Akechi is doing some soul-searching if he's a free man, considering what he went through as a minion to Masayoshi Shido. Akechi has a lot of fans in the Persona fanbase, so they would certainly appreciate the opportunity to see Akechi grapple with questions of redemption in Persona 6. There's still a lot of potential left in his character.

Aside from the character-specific reasons that Akechi is worthy of a Persona 6 appearance, he'd be a convenient choice for Atlus. Since he's more of a rival to the Phantom Thieves than a core member of the team, he wouldn't make Persona 6 about Persona 5's main narrative in the same way that an appearance by Joker or any other Phantom Thief would. Akechi's return in Persona 6 would give the game a concrete relationship with Persona 5, attracting fans who got their start in the Persona franchise there, but he'd be distant enough from the Phantom Thieves that it wouldn't feel like a direct Persona 5 sequel.

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Akechi's Potential Role in Persona 6

akechi

If Akechi appears, then he could be a valuable guide to the protagonists of the game. He has years of experience in the world of Personas and Shadows, meaning he could share his insight on how this world works with the new Persona users at the center of Persona 6. While Igor and non-human party members like Morgana usually work together to fill this role, there's rarely a human expert on Personas. Akechi could break that mold in Persona 6. His mortal and less than neutral perspective on Persona usage would contribute a very different tone to the protagonists' mission in Persona 6, which could go a long way in helping distinguish the game from previous titles.

At the same time, Akechi could contribute a valuable subplot to Persona 6. It's possible that he appears in the game in disguise, and that his dark past as Shido's right hand man and personal assassin only comes up later in the game. In the way, he could simultaneously discuss life's questions with Persona 6's main characters while exploring his own crimes and whether he can be redeemed, or whether he needs redemption at all. Persona fans have only ever seen Akechi during the darkest time in his life, but there's a lot of potential in his character when he's beyond Shido's influence. Akechi's troubled relationship with power, revenge, and justice make him a wonderfully complicated guide for the Persona 6 party.

An Antihero for Persona 6

persona 5 animation goro akechi

On the whole, it's unclear if Atlus is actually likely to bring back Akechi in Persona 6. On the one hand, his reappearance would be a huge change in the Persona tradition of standalone stories, but on the other hand, it doesn't seem like Atlus would've hinted that Akechi is still alive if it wasn't considering telling more stories that involve him. Persona 5 Royal's true ending strongly suggests that Akechi's story isn't complete, and that Atlus has more plans in mind for the antihero of the Persona 5 games. If Persona 5 Royal doesn't get its own sequel, then maybe Persona 6 will be the next venue for Akechi.

Whether Akechi plays a central part in Persona 6 or not, Atlus has to address the game's inheritance from Persona 5 somehow. The Persona audience is bigger than ever thanks to Joker and the Phantom Thieves, meaning a lot of players will use the stories Persona 5 told and mechanics it used as a reference point when getting into the next game. Atlus can entice these fans by repeating things that Persona 5 did well, but it can't repeat the last game wholesale, or else it'll alienate longtime fans who are used to every Persona game being a unique experience. Compromise seems like Persona 6's potential saving grace, and a supporting role for Goro Akechi seems like a good potential compromise.

Persona 6 is in development.

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