Shin Megami Tensei

Much like The Last Remnant, Amazon Japan has suddenly just listed a Shin Megami Tensei game for PlayStation 3, the publisher being Atlus.

The title of the game on the listing reads: “Shin Megami Tensei (working title)”.

Are we getting closer to a Persona 5 announcement? We can only wait and see.

Yes, I am obsessed with the Persona games. Perhaps too obsessed. But, then I think about how great the games have been recently, and that makes me proud of my obsession. So, trust me when I say I’m all over these rumors of a new, current generation Persona title. The last two critically praised Persona games have been on the PS2, even when the current generation was in full swing. I really can’t blame Atlus for this – the PS2 is still an awesome system for niche RPGs and provides cheaper production costs. When the games were released, it proved one thing – last generation games can still best the majority of current generation titles.

Will we be seeing a Persona 5 on the PS3 or Xbox 360? Most likely. I’ll go so far as to say I’m pretty sure the game is in development as I write this. A month or so ago, there was mention of the game in a rather odd place – a Japanese pachinko site. Now, a most solid method of confirming the game’s existence has come to light – the official Japanese PlayStation site. According to Scrawl, a new “creator interview” was posted that had Shoji Meguro saying Persona 5 is in development for the PS3. The site even listed him as the producer for the title. While I wouldn’t bet on Sony exclusivity at this point, it does seem like the mention of this game is legit, whether it was intentional or not.

Here’s hoping I’m right in believing that a new Persona game is in the works. I’m anxious to see what Atlus can do with the franchise on a current generation console.

If you’re not familiar with the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, you’re no role-playing fan. But if you’d like to become more informed, check out our reviews for Persona 3, Persona 4, and Devil Summoner 2. …pretty impressive efforts, eh?

Given that evidence alone, you should be excited to learn that the next SMT installment – Persona 5 – is in the works and may end up being exclusive to the PlayStation 3. It would be the first such entry in the series on the PS3, and it shouldn’t be all that surprising, considering that all previous installments have been exclusive to PlayStation platforms. The evidence comes from a pachinko industry publication that said “a consumer announcement of PS3 exclusive Persona 5 is scheduled.” Sankaku Complex questions the validity of the rumor, but mentions the franchise’s loyalty to PlayStation and the fact that we have yet to see a true next-gen Persona. Typically, Atlus isn’t so enamored with leaping directly into a new generation, and if you hadn’t noticed, they’ve fared rather well with some PS2 RPGs over the past few years. But they’ll have to make the jump sooner or later so it should come as no surprise that they’re currently prepping, and if the game isn’t exclusive to the PS3…well, it’d be weird. We seriously doubt any Xbox 360 loyalist has ever heard of the series in question but then again, Namco made Beautiful Katamari exclusive to the 360 after two consecutive PS2-exclusive releases, so who knows what might happen?

Anyway, we’ll let you know if Persona 5 for the PS3 receives an official confirmation in the near future. You can bet that if it does, RPG fans everywhere will be sporting ear-to-ear smiles.