Summary
Metaphor: ReFantaziowill share a “mindset” withPersona 5in how it combines gameplay and storytelling with the goal of delivering a maximally unique experience, Atlus has said. The company invoked the comparison betweenPersona 5and its upcoming RPG as part of a wider reflection on what the fandom can expect from the latter.
Following numerous leaks,Metaphor: ReFantaziowas officially announcedat the June 2023 Xbox Games Showcase. Designed and produced byPersonaseries veterans Shigenori Soejima and Katsura Hashino, respectively,Metaphor: ReFantaziois set to release in the second half of 2024 as Atlus’s first new original IP in more than a decade.
A recent tweet from the Japanese studio delved a bit deeper into howMetaphor: ReFantaziois meant to fit into its acclaimed portfolio. The company described the upcoming game as a “fantasy drama” that will make good use of its fantastical medieval world to tell a story that would not have been possible in a modern setting. Although that makes it inherently different from most of the developer’s previous games, the JRPG is still being created with “the same mindset asPersona 5,” in that it will aim to deliver a completely unique experience, according to a translation of the tweet authored by Atlus insider Midori.
Metaphor: ReFantazio Will Share Some Themes With Past Persona Games
The message also saw the Sega subsidiary reveal that it structured both the story and gameplay ofMetaphor: ReFantazioaround the idea of people being held back by their “fears and anxieties.” This particular theme is far from unprecedented for the studio, as all of itsPersonagames have tackled the subject of overcoming one’s fearsto varying degrees.
Although Atlus labeledMetaphor: ReFantazioas a “commemorative title,” the studio insists that the upcoming game isn’t merely a nostalgic return to its fantasy RPG roots. Due to the sheer volume ofPersonatalent working on the project, it is widely believed thatMetaphor: ReFantazioslowed down the development ofPersona 6, which is currently rumored to be released in 2025, nine years after its predecessor first hit the market.
Be that as it may,Atlus already has a pretty stacked 2024 lineup even withoutPersona 6, asPersona 3 Reloadis scheduled to release on February 2, followed byUnicorn Overloadfive weeks later. The global release ofPersona 5: The Phantom Xmobile game is also expected to happen sometime next year, whileMetaphor: ReFantaziois already confirmed to be launching in fall 2024. Additionally, Midori recently reported that Atlus is working on yet anotherPersonaspin-off code-named “Asa,” which is also said to be targeting a 2024 launch.
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