Any major success that thePersonafranchise enjoys in the next several years will undoubtedly be owed in some part toPersona 5. It’s no secret thatPersona 5has made the popularity of Atlus' signature RPG franchise skyrocket; something about this story of teenage outcasts turned superpowered vigilantes has touched audiences around the world, resulting in one ofPersona’s most beloved titles to date. Atlus was a major presence in the JRPG industry already, of course, butPersona 5has brought on a new tide of fame thatPersona,Shin Megami Tensei,and all of Atlus' other projects can ride for now.
That’s a big deal because Atlus has actually been working on a mysterious new project for quite some time now. About five years ago, Atlus revealed its intent to make a new fantasy RPG IP, referring to it asProject Re Fantasy.While Atlus has revealed next to nothing about the game,Project Re Fantasy’s long and opaque development process suggests that Atlus has something ambitious in mind. Now thatAtlus is teasing a major game releasein 2022, all eyes are onProject Re Fantasyagain, and the timing couldn’t be better. If it releases in 2022, odds are good that many newPersonafans will try this RPG in lieu of anotherPersonagame.
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The Advent of Project Re Fantasy
For those who aren’t familiar withProject Re Fantasy,early teasers about the game suggest that it’s a medieval fantasy RPG about a world at war, putting a heavy emphasis on the use of magic as a tool of destruction. The game may explore the concept of “fantasy” as a central theme, and there could be some references to the modern world within it somehow. The game is being directed by Katsura Hashino, a famed Atlus figure who directedPersona 3, 4,and5,and has directed or produced a long list ofPersonaspinoffs and other Atlus products.
Not much more is known aboutProject Re Fantasythan that. Since it’s so hard to pin down, it’s also hard to predict whether or not it’ll attract a lot of players. Atlus may be known for its RPGs, but it’s not always easy for even the biggest studios to create new IPs, especially if they step away from the studio’s known brand in some way.Project Re Fantasy’s premise certainly sounds different from Atlus' coreShin Megami TenseiandPersonafranchises, but that difference isn’t a major risk to the game’s success, thanks to the help ofPersona 5.
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Persona 5’s Star Power
Persona 5may be five years old now, but Atlus has expertly kepthype for the Phantom Thievesalive. The extendedPersona 5 Royalencouraged fans to enjoy an enhanced playthrough, whilePersona 5 Strikersoffered a compelling new story that built on the Phantom Thieves' place in thePersonauniverse.Persona 5lovers still hope to see more games starring the Phantom Thieves, but there’s also evidence that these newPersonafollowers are interested in Atlus' other works.Persona 4 Golden’s Steam release was a hit, selling half a million units in its first year to the surprise of Sega and Atlus. In other words, as much asPersonafans want morePersona 5content, they’re also happy to try other Atlus works.
That means things are already looking up forProject Re Fantasyif it releases in 2022. Enthusiasm forPersonais still strong, and Atlus intends to keep it that way throughthe ongoingPersonaanniversary celebration.Project Re Fantasyisn’t aPersonagame, but it could reap the benefits ofPersona5’s success and the franchise anniversary by releasing next year while thePersonahype is in full swing. Atlus' new IP is a mystery on the whole, but nevertheless, it already has a lot of potential fans thanks to the Phantom Thieves.
Persona 5is available now for PS3 and PS4.
