Persona 6is already one of the most anticipated games of the new console generation. While there’s been no official announcement about a follow-up on the widely successfulPersona 5,it’s almost undoubtedly in the works. There will be likely be huge pressure for the game to be successful, butPersona 6will be in a unique position to capture and define the spirit of JRPGs on the new consoles, the way thatSkyrimdid for Western RPGs in the last cycle.
While wildly disparate games,PersonaandSkyrimlikely both grace the collections of many gamers across the world. The two offer very different experiences, but both captured attention for the sheer amount of detail given to each game. With so much excitement already surrounding the next game,Persona 6will need to take the JRPG renaissancethatPersona 5started and build on that.
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Persona 6 Could Define the Next Console Cycle’s JRPGs
Skyrimhas had one of the longest-running steady player bases in history. The game had huge impacts on how game’s that followed it were designed, to the point where it was used almost as an adjective describing titles likeBreath of the Wild.Persona 5has already done something similar with JRPGs; it raised the bar on presentation and mechanics for the genre. As much asPersona 5will clearly impactPersona 6, the new game will likely be launching near the beginning of this new console cycle the same way thatSkyrimdid. The similar timing and excitement levels aroundPersona 6put it in a unique opportunity to become the staple JRPG for the next generation.
It goes without saying thatPersona 6is already walking a tight rope, and the breakout success ofPersona 5means that fans will be expecting the moon of the sequel. The framework that has been laid out already is a good starting point. Part of what madeSkyrimso successful was the sheer amount of content in the game, and the amount of time that players could dedicate to exploring every cave, town, and ancient ruin the game had to offer. An expansive series of crafting options and side content to explore meant that the grind was always rewarded even hundreds of hours into play.
Persona 5already features some of these important elements, again part of its huge success, butPersona 6still has places to build on to create a game world to hold player’s attention for a decade.Persona 5is already a game that players can easily sink several hundred hours into, with relationships to develop and new Personas to discover by exploration of fusion. Expanding on an already impressive system would go a long way in ensuring its success.
While many of the long-runningtrends of thePersonaseriesare likely to continue in the next installment, Atlus should not be afraid to make some deviations to the formula in order to hook a wider audience. That’s not to advocate for wildly leaving behind the JRPG traditions, they are a big part of what’s madePersona 5so successful. However, innovating on what worked well and improving the things that could have been better implemented will be what could makePersona 6a true masterpiece.
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Persona 6 Should Learn From Its Competitors
Persona 5helped lead the pack of JRPGs that have become more successful than what was initially a a niche genre in games. Alongside it, games likeDragon Quest 11andFinal Fantasy 7 Remakealso showed that games heavily steeped in traditional JRPG archetypes can be very successful.Persona 6should learn from other JRPGswhile still staying true to its own roots. Adapting elements from other modern Western RPGs is part of what madeSkyrimsuccessful.
Final Fantasy 7 Remakeshowed that a classic turn-based combat system can be expertly adapted to a more action-focused style without compromising the strategy of the original. It’s worth noting that a move that drastic is highly unlikely forPersona, but speaks to the kinds of adaptations to take note of for Atlus after the current success ofPersona 5 Strikers.
Just how differentPersona 6will beis something likely on many fans' minds as they wait for an official announcement. Treading this line will be pivotal forPersona 6.Skyrimtook some large steps away from theElder Scrollstitles that came before it, but it paid off in critical and commercial success. As with any franchise, Atlus won’t be able to keep everyone happy. The same was true ofSkyrim, as some veteran fans ofElder Scrollsdecried the game as having dumbed down the mechanics. While pleasing long-time fans should certainly be a priority, charting a new course forward forPersonawill be critical to success in the new generation of games.
After the success ofPersona 5,development of the sequellikely shouldn’t take as long compared to the decade it took forPersona 5. While Atlus is almost assuredly focused on maintaining the same level of polish for whichPersona 5is so highly regarded, the developers also likely know that getting the game released earlier in the console cycle will prove beneficial. Atlus has also likely paid attention to some of the backlash recent Western RPGs received for releasing “too early,” so this balancing act of expediency and quality will be a critical factor inPersona 6’ssuccess.Skyrimis historically known for its enormous slew of bugs, despite its commercial success.
The similarities betweenSkyrimandPersonaseem tertiary at first glance. However,Persona 6will likely be finding itself in a very similar windowSkyrimdid when it first released. Properly building on what the series has already achieved, while also innovating within its own formula will be crucial. Learning from what its contemporaries have done well, while also embracing its own accomplishments,Persona 6could be a definitive entry in the JRPG genre, similar to whatSkyrimbecame for western RPGs in the previous console cycle. Until fans have a better idea of what toexpect fromPersonain the future, there’s not much for them to do but enjoyPersona 5and speculate.
