With the Persona series’ overwhelming success in the last few years, Atlus greenlighting another game was inevitable. Persona 6 is currently in development and updates have been dormant. Understandably so, since Persona 5 got two big releases in the revamped edition Royal and the spinoff Strikers in the last couple of years. Persona 5’s release finally put the series on the mainstream and likely permanently cemented it as Atlus’ flagship franchise.
If Atlus feels immense pressure to live up to the legacy Persona 5 left behind, then it is perfectly reasonable. However, there is no need for Persona 6 to radically deviate from its predecessors. Indeed, by keeping Persona 5’s strengths and adding small touches, this future sixth Persona game could easily outmatch its juggernaut of a predecessor.
Tweaking the Persona 6 Confidants
Confidants, previously known as Social Links, are one of the Persona series’ most well-known features. They reflect the games’ hybridity by integrating the life simulation and JRPG elements. They also tie the gameplay, story, and symbolism with each other. Despite being highlights of each game, the Confidants need some improvement.
Persona’s treatment of same-sex attractions and relationships has frequently been criticized. The third, fourth, and fifth games have all been subjected to controversy because of scenes that sloppily at best, and mockingly at worst, treat LGBTQ+ issues. One way to make up for these past mishaps and cater to fan demands is including gay routes without making them pitiful fanservice. Whether Persona 6 should make every reasonably potential partner dateable or restrict same-sex options to a few Confidants remains to be discussed, but even adding one respectfully portrayed LGBTQ+ option in the game would be a breath of fresh air.
Another possible improvement is streamlining the Confidants. Some possible solutions include making them easier to hang out with and designing their rewards to be of equal value instead of hierarchizing the benefits and forcing players to prioritize some Confidants over others. Doing this would provide players with an opportunity to pursue certain Confidants according to their needs, their playstyle, and their overall preferences. It would encourage more customization in a game series with elements of genres that are well-known for their ability to give players as much personalization and freedom as possible within the game’s rules.
Additionally, the Confidants could actually reflect the character development of party members instead of having these important characters depend on the main story to change. In addition to being stronger and more willing to help the protagonist out in battle, Persona 6 could have alternate dialogue and scenes during the story to reward the player for helping out their in-game friends.
Spicing Up the Persona 6 Story
Persona has been around for 25 years and a pattern has been developed throughout the series' history, and the formula is well known at this point. The player is put in the role of a Japanese high school student that eventually leads a team of misfits that turns into a closely-knit friend group and uncovers mysterious and often supernatural elements in their environment.
The protagonist is usually silent aside from small snippets during battle. They are usually male, with the female choice in Persona 3 Portable and Maya in Persona 2: Eternal Punishment being the only exceptions. There's nothing inherently wrong with recycling this concept, but after five games, it feels that Atlus is pushing the limits of the idea's creative potential. To keep things fresh, Atlus should strive to avoid such easy choices for Persona 6.
While the games have always been set in Japan, the settings themselves have relatively varied. They range from almost technologically out of touch rural areas like in Persona 4 and crowded, urbanized Tokyo like in Persona 5. Persona 6 could change things by simply opting to have the story take place somewhere outside of Japan. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the crew has to write non-Japanese characters. A hypothetical Persona 6 story could easily be about being foreign by using a Japanese protagonist out of their comfort zone. If it were to happen, it would most likely take place somewhere in America.
Even then, the series isn’t a stranger to incorporating characters with foreign roots into its stories. Lisa Silverman, raised in Japan by white American parents, is a major Persona 2 character, and Ann Takamaki from Persona 5 also has (white) American ancestry and inherited some of that grandparent’s physical attributes. Persona 6 could go all out by telling a tale of cultural differences in a completely different location. Additionally, while a high school setting with modern twists is likely to exist, considering it is a Persona game, the game could easily star adult characters in a collegial or even professional environment, adding more adult themes and situations to justify the series' consistent M rating.
One final thing Persona 6 could do to make the story feel more unique within the series is experimenting with the protagonist. Bringing back the option to play as other genders is one of Persona 3 Portable's most memorable features, and is now the norm in not only JRPGs but in most games with character customization. Just adding that extra touch would already make Persona 6 a special game. Also, Persona 6 could ditch the tradition of having a silent protagonist.
Out of the protagonists that currently exist, Tatsuya and Maya have had speaking roles, Yu became a talkative character in Persona 4's spinoffs, and Joker, while not a chatterbox, has received plenty of characterization that remains independent from the player's choices. The series has proven itself to be open to the idea of having its protagonists regularly speak.
PlayStation Exclusivity
With the exception of the Persona Q duology, the Arena games, Persona 4 Golden's recent PC port, and Persona 5 Strikers, the series has always been exclusive to PlayStation consoles. As more games are becoming multiplatform, Persona fans are craving ports too. Even typos can lead to excitement for a Switch or PC port. Whether Atlus will port Persona 5 (or Royal) to PC remains to be seen, but Persona 6 could become the first multiplatform mainline Persona game at launch.
Persona isn't a niche cult classic meant solely for anime and JRPG fans anymore. It's a hugely marketable property with a diverse fanbase that isn't necessarily loyal to Sony consoles. The game could take the Kingdom Hearts 3 route and become as accessible as possible. At this point, restricting the game to one console, even a successful one like the PS5, might hinder its sales and prevent the fanbase from becoming even bigger and more involved with the franchise's ever-expanding universe.
Persona 6 is in development.