There is still a long wait beforePersona 6officially gets unveiled, but it can potentially serve as a big turning point for Atlus. Although reception to therecently unveiledMetaphor: ReFantazioandPersona 3 Reloadhave been largely positive, they continue a trend of high-profile Atlus titles being cross-gen, something that has been common since the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles launched in 2020.
While it is nice that owners of previous generation consoles are still getting notable titles over three years after current systems came out, games built with previous consoles in mind also have to deal with their limitations. Atlus participating in this trend should not be much of a surprise, asPersona 5was originally a cross-gen titlefor PS3 and PS4 in 2016, andPersona 4launched as a PS2 exclusive two years after its successor came out. However, there is a lot of potential for this pattern to be broken withPersona 6, as it would be the perfect opportunity for Atlus to show what it is capable of with current technology.
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Persona 6 Should Only Come Out For Current-Gen Systems
The PS4 and Xbox One consoles are almost a decade old, and with current-gen systems finally becoming accessible, it is time to leave the previous generation behind. Several companies have already moved on, as Sony and Microsoft have decided to stop developing cross-platform games for their respective consoles. The recently releasedFinal Fantasy 16is only available on PS5, showing some increasing confidence in games only coming out for the current generation.
There are several hold-outs from the previous generation, including Capcom, FromSoftware, and Atlus, as they can make several of their projects playable for the aging systems. In Atlus' case, despite being huge titles forMicrosoft’s Xbox Games Showcase,Metaphor: ReFantazioandPersona 3 Reloadare launching in 2024 as cross-generation titles. While both games look great, it might be time for the company to move on from the PS4 and Xbox One after they come out.Persona 6would be the perfect chance to show what an Atlus game built from the ground up on modern platforms would look like.
Despite practically nothing being known aboutPersona 6,it is already a highly anticipated title afteryears ofPersona 5spin-offshave more or less occupied the series sinceP5’s release. An official announcement would no doubt elicit an immense amount of excitement from fans, and that can be driven home if it is only slated for the current consoles.
The most obvious reason is that it would show Atlus is ready to move on from the generation where it found a significant amount of success to deliver something entirely new, especially if rumors ofPersona 6coming out in late 2024prove true. From a hardware standpoint, it can take better advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X’s graphical prowess and significantly improved CPUs.
It can also use the SSDs' blistering speeds to craft scenarios too demanding for a hard drive to handle. Whether this would come in the form of seamless transitions between the real world and the series' next alternate dimension or evolving the already stylish combat to new levels, there would be fewer limits to Atlus' creativity.
Another more symbolic reason Atlus should only developPersona 6for modern systems is to present the game as another reinvention of the series. The first games in the series were more akin to dungeon crawlers thanks to a more linear structure, while the most recent titles blend turn-based RPG play with social sims and time management elements. If Atlus is ready to deviate from the formula that made its recentPersonagames such a success, making the game specifically for current systems would be the best way to announce the bold new direction of the series.
Persona 6is currently in development.
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