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Persona 5 Royal to Have New Endings, Improved Pacing

The September 2019 issue of Game Informer magazine, released earlier this month includes an article on Persona 5 Royal. The feature includes some new details given from director Daiki Ito and producer Kazuhisa Wada.

On Persona 5 Royal‘s Expanded Content

Simply put, there’s a 30-percent increase in new features. However, we’ve adjusted the overall playtime so it isn’t too different from Persona 5… Rather than saying the game has been ‘expanded,’ it might be more appropriate to say that it has ‘deepened.’

Ito and Wada also state that the game will feature improved pacing and quicker experience gain, which are elements allowing Persona 5 Royal to have a similar playtime length as the original game. The developers discussed improved pacing in terms of gameplay in a previous interview.

On New Scenes and New Endings

Persona 5 Royal also has a substantial extra school term that continues the tale beyond the original ending. “The game is made so you can still enjoy the original storyline and ending,’ Wada and Ito say. “We think that the newly added scenes help to deepen the feeling of the game. How that ties in with the new term is something we would love for you to experience yourself, but depending on how you play, we’ve prepared several new endings unique to P5R.”

Similarly, the remake of Persona 4—Persona 4 Golden—featured the ability to simply experience the original game’s ending, but also experience new endings and story that went past Persona 4.

On New Character Kasumi Yoshizawa

[Kasumi] is a cheerful transfer student (and a gymnast) attending Shujin Academy on a scholarship, but she eventually gets wrapped up in the exploits of the Phantom Thieves and joins the team as a playable character. “In terms of combat skills, she mainly possesses physical attack skills and magic attack skills with Bless damage,” Wada and Ito tell us. “She’s more geared towards physical with high strength and speed, but can also heal, so she’s a pretty well-rounded character.”

Character designer Soejima discussed at the Atlus Art Exhibit 2019 that Kasumi’s persona, Cendrillon, compliments her with her use of magical powers, and teased that the meaning behind this would be known after playing Persona 5 Royal.

Read a full length interview with director Daiki Ito, producer Kazuhisa Wada, and character designer Shigenori Soejima here, from Weekly Famitsu magazine issue #1588 released in May 2019.

Persona 5 Royal will be released on The PS4 in Japan on October 31, 2019. It will be released in the West in Spring 2020, with a general 2020 release in Asia.

Source: Persona Central

 

[Xaero Gravity]

I hate that this won't be DLC. It was tolerable back in the day with Persona 3 FES because of how consoles were structured back then, and even then it was only $19. And P4G was a port to a different platform. This on the other hand is just greedy bullshit.
Why the hell should I support P6 at launch when I can just wait for an enhanced version? I get that it's more expensive than just some simple DLC, but it's frustrating nonetheless.


Sorry for the rant

 

[Danjin44]

I can understand some people might not happy about this, I personally enjoyed P5 enough that I don't mind buying Royal version and playing through it again. I'm more angry about Atlus not giving us anything related to Shin Megami Tensei V, what's going on with that game's development?

 

[Xaero Gravity]

I can understand some people might not happy about this, I personally enjoyed P5 enough that I don't mind buying Royal version and playing through it again. I'm more angry about Atlus not giving us anything related to Shin Megami Tensei V, what's going on with that game's development?

I honestly completely forgot that game was announced.

 

[Danjin44]

I honestly completely forgot that game was announced.

I honestly don't blame you, Atlus realy radio silent with that game. It could be they using entirely different engine instead of UE so the game might look different than what they originally showed us.

 

[Nydus]

I hate that this won't be DLC. It was tolerable back in the day with Persona 3 FES because of how consoles were structured back then, and even then it was only $19. And P4G was a port to a different platform. This on the other hand is just greedy bullshit.
Why the hell should I support P6 at launch when I can just wait for an enhanced version? I get that it's more expensive than just some simple DLC, but it's frustrating nonetheless.


Sorry for the rant

I'm with you on that one. It's fine that people like danjin44 are willing to sacrifice the time to play trough huge games like P5 a second time, but with the pace that new and exciting games are dropping nowadays, I just can't justify it.

And why the hell do they even waste resources on this? The fanbase of persona already bought the game. Are they hoping for a truckload of new fans or are they expecting the majority just to double dip? I don't really understand the businessmodel behind it.

 

[Ivellios]

I hate that this won't be DLC. It was tolerable back in the day with Persona 3 FES because of how consoles were structured back then, and even then it was only $19. And P4G was a port to a different platform. This on the other hand is just greedy bullshit.
Why the hell should I support P6 at launch when I can just wait for an enhanced version? I get that it's more expensive than just some simple DLC, but it's frustrating nonetheless.


Sorry for the rant

Yes i agree, as much as i enjoyed my time with Persona 5, i cant justify playing everything again with so many new games launching... guess i'll just watch all the new cutscenes and endings on youtube.

I can understand some people might not happy about this, I personally enjoyed P5 enough that I don't mind buying Royal version and playing through it again. I'm more angry about Atlus not giving us anything related to Shin Megami Tensei V, what's going on with that game's development?

Now that you mention it, it has been a long time since they announced it right? This is a completely new game and far more interesting to me than a "remaster" of Persona 5

 

[Danjin44]

Yes i agree, as much as i enjoyed my time with Persona 5, i cant justify playing everything again with so many new games launching... guess i'll just watch all the new cutscenes and endings on youtube.



Now that you mention it, it has been a long time since they announced it right? This is a completely new game and far more interesting to me than a "remaster" of Persona 5

Yap, I like Persona series a lot but I’m much more bigger fan of SMT series and SMTV was my biggest reason wanting Switch in the first place.

 

[UltimateUnknown]

I hate that this won't be DLC. It was tolerable back in the day with Persona 3 FES because of how consoles were structured back then, and even then it was only $19. And P4G was a port to a different platform. This on the other hand is just greedy bullshit.
Why the hell should I support P6 at launch when I can just wait for an enhanced version? I get that it's more expensive than just some simple DLC, but it's frustrating nonetheless.


Sorry for the rant

It's the exact same logic by which Nintendo has been releasing "enhanced" versions of their Pokemon games for decades, i.e. Pokemon Yellow, Crystal, Emerald, Platinum, BW2, USUM, etc. No one seems to complain about those and people seem to enjoy buying and playing enhanced versions of games they already love. So there's no reason to stop on their part.

 

[Mondai]

Definite buy from me I love Persona/SMT

 

[kraspkibble]

Can't wait for this! Really wish I could read japanese so I can play it this year. I guess Spring 2020 isn't too long to wait but it's gonna be out around the same time as Cyberpunk 2077!

Also, i don't really care that I need to buy this separately from the original version. It's not like it's just a DLC or expansion. it's pretty much a rework of the original game.

when Persona 6 comes out i'll be there day 1 to play that version and when we get Persona 6: The Whatever It's Called! i'll be there day 1 again.

Atlus can have all my money

 

[Graciaus]

If this was released on pc I'd buy it again. But I'm not buying the same game twice on a system I don't use.

The new ending and pacing are interesting. I would imagine the new character would end up in my party with joker/haru/Makoto.

 

[kraspkibble]

If this was released on pc I'd buy it again. But I'm not buying the same game twice on a system I don't use.

The new ending and pacing are interesting. I would imagine the new character would end up in my party with joker/haru/Makoto.

it would be cool if it came to PC but it's never gonna happen. if you want to play it you need to buy it for PS4. you're not buying the same game again btw

 

[mejin]

Definitive version is not something new and usually comes after a year or after the milking dlcs/season pass.

P5 Royal is coming 3 years after the OG. 3 fuckin years. It is just not fair with Atlus imho when we have infos that confirm they reworked all the game to make it as a definitive version.

I mean would it be okay if it was another platform? So, the original buyers could go rekt like we saw with DQXI year after launch on ps4/pc?

the only thing I do think it is stupid are the cosmetics dlcs not coming by default in Royal....all the shit that came for P5 (costumes, music, personas) should be available at no cost. this is simply wrong. At least if you bought it you should have it for free do dl once again for Royal.

 

[Hudo]

Practices like this would be much more tolerable if this "definitive version" would be available on more than one platform. Otherwise, they could just release this as DLC, IMHO. And I say this as a big Persona fan.

 

[DeliciousDoc]

I'll get this if it bombs in Japan and the price drops to around 3000 yen by 2020. Otherwise I'll wait until 2021 for a PC release.

 

[PhilipDoesMatter]

After finishing P5 I swore to myself I would never touch it again mainly due to pacing. Seeing all those improvements to Royal is a double-edge sword. I feel betraid but glad at the same time for those who will play it for the first time.

 

[Vawn]

Why is the base Persona series locked on PlayStation? I don't believe there is any agreement with Sony.

I get that it wouldn't sell on Xbox, but this game would probably sell even better than PS4 on Switch.

 

[mejin]

Why is the base Persona series locked on PlayStation? I don't believe there is any agreement with Sony.

I get that it wouldn't sell on Xbox, but this game would probably sell even better than PS4 on Switch.

It seems the teams are too small to go multi route. So, Atlus went this strategy: Persona on Playstation and SMT on nintendo. And for this mistake Persona grew and is now more famous than the main series.

SMT V on switch only is a huge mistake, but it is their choice.

 

[Vawn]

It seems the teams are too small to go multi route. So, Atlus went this strategy: Persona on Playstation and SMT on nintendo. And for this mistake Persona grew and is now more famous than the main series.

SMT V on switch only is a huge mistake, but it is their choice.

If I was Nintendo (or Sony for SMT), I'd offer to port and publish the games ourselves. Those are both huge markets for these types of games.

 

[mejin]

If I was Nintendo (or Sony for SMT), I'd offer to port and publish the games ourselves. Those are both huge markets for these types of games.

And there is Sega Europe always working to get pc ports.

Atlus is way bigger than Falcom but they have similar strategies, they focus on a single platform. Maybe they will change next gen.

 

[MagnesG]

It's the exact same logic by which Nintendo has been releasing "enhanced" versions of their Pokemon games for decades, i.e. Pokemon Yellow, Crystal, Emerald, Platinum, BW2, USUM, etc. No one seems to complain about those and people seem to enjoy buying and playing enhanced versions of games they already love. So there's no reason to stop on their part.

It's not that simple of a comparison. Pokemon is a monster catching game first and foremost (you could play the same version again and again without feeling bored), not a story focused game. Getting legacy pokemon from past games is a also "thing" plus the existence of dual versions, and the "no one seem to complain" notion is just wrong.

Regardless they had done this before, we had SMT IV Apocalypse for example that was released in the same old 3DS, though the story was wildly different from the start. The Royal case is a new one and I'm interested to know the feedback from fans on sales, maybe it will be good? I don't know lol. For sure I will wait for reviews especially on the pacing part, else I'm just gonna watch the new content elsewhere.

 

[Dane]

What pisses me off is how Atlus, even if their franchises have been growing up in success in the west (and Persona 5 nailed it), can't do a simultaneous release.

In fact, i've been noticing that they are actually going worse on that:

Catherine for example had a five month gap in its original release, now its seven for the remaster.

Persona 4 was five months, P5 took seven months.

Persona Q also had the time gap as P4/Catherine, and Q2 not only didn't come with a dub, it also had the same gap as P5/Full Body.

 

[MagnesG]

What pisses me off is how Atlus, even if their franchises have been growing up in success in the west (and Persona 5 nailed it), can't do a simultaneous release.

In fact, i've been noticing that they are actually going worse on that:

Catherine for example had a five month gap in its original release, now its seven for the remaster.

Persona 4 was five months, P5 took seven months.

Persona Q also had the time gap as P4/Catherine, and Q2 not only didn't come with a dub, it also had the same gap as P5/Full Body.

The only thing to worry about would be the reception from this Japanese release, whether it will be substantial enough in terms of content with various fixes or just same old Persona flair (good but tedious replays), It's easy to avoid like plague if that's the case when it released globally.

Looking back I might not want to wait for the English release, really hope I have the time to play this and not being impatient. Hmm..

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

I'll get it but I wish I liked P5 as much as I liked P3/P4. I've played through the other games 3-5 times each including ports and different versions.

I stopped playing P5 around the casino on my first playthrough because the localization was really bugging me, it felt like the character's personalities weren't coming through the way they did in the other games. Now I guess I gotta go back and finish it before this comes out...

 

[vkbest]

I hate that this won't be DLC. It was tolerable back in the day with Persona 3 FES because of how consoles were structured back then, and even then it was only $19. And P4G was a port to a different platform. This on the other hand is just greedy bullshit.
Why the hell should I support P6 at launch when I can just wait for an enhanced version? I get that it's more expensive than just some simple DLC, but it's frustrating nonetheless.


Sorry for the rant

Could be worse, example? making this "improved" version exclusive to other console.

 

[cireza]

What pisses me off is how Atlus, even if their franchises have been growing up in success in the west (and Persona 5 nailed it), can't do a simultaneous release.

In fact, i've been noticing that they are actually going worse on that:

Catherine for example had a five month gap in its original release, now its seven for the remaster.

Persona 4 was five months, P5 took seven months.

Persona Q also had the time gap as P4/Catherine, and Q2 not only didn't come with a dub, it also had the same gap as P5/Full Body.

I believe that Sega is going to try to fix this, but there is probably a lot of work involved. My guess is that Project RE Fantasy will be the first one to be multiplatform as well as having a worldwide release.

 

[IbizaPocholo]

 

[BarmyDodger]

I'm starting to think that I should just wait for the second version of Persona games.

 

[DrJohnGalt]

I've been waiting to play P5 until the price drops (it's $20 now, that's fine) and until I can get all the DLC or whatever extras rolled into a definitive edition. Now looks like I'll have to wait a bit more and pick up the newest incarnation. But I have heard the pacing was a bit slow and the game felt a bit grindy, even for a JRPG; glad it's been addressed for the new remake project.

 

[Danjin44]

I've been waiting to play P5 until the price drops (it's $20 now, that's fine) and until I can get all the DLC or whatever extras rolled into a definitive edition. Now looks like I'll have to wait a bit more and pick up the newest incarnation. But I have heard the pacing was a bit slow and the game felt a bit grindy, even for a JRPG; glad it's been addressed for the new remake project.

The original game wasn’t grindy at all, but they long games and Royal edition gonna be even longer.

 

[mejin]

Royal on march? ouch...TLoU 2, FFVII, Royal in a month, holy shit.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

The original game wasn’t grindy at all, but they long games and Royal edition gonna be even longer.

Didn’t they mention that they have 30% more content in the same length because of improved pacing? I might be imagining stuff, who knows.

 

[Danjin44]

Royal on march? ouch...TLoU 2, FFVII, Royal in a month, holy shit.

Last of Us Part 2 is coming in Feb.

Didn’t they mention that they have 30% more content in the same length because of improved pacing? I might be imagining stuff, who knows.

I’m guessing they talking more about “QOL” mechanics, similar with DQXIS.

 

[joe_zazen]

Didn’t they mention that they have 30% more content in the same length because of improved pacing? I might be imagining stuff, who knows.

That could be bad if you prefer combat to dialog. Ymmv.

I found the real world stuff to be way too dire and dark to be fun, missed p4’s enjoyable small town shenanigans. So thirty percent more of that, ewwww. But I only played 5-10 hours. I also wonder if I am too old to get into ‘activist teens saving the real world’ storylines.

Slightly ot: why’d jpn authorities send a teenage delinquent to go live at a pub with an asshole? Jpn social services on the level of Scotland’s confirmed.

 

[Danjin44]

That could be bad if you prefer combat to dialog. Ymmv.

I found the real world stuff to be way too dire and dark to be fun, missed p4’s enjoyable small town shenanigans. So thirty percent more of that, ewwww. But I only played 5-10 hours. I also wonder if I am too old to get into ‘activist teens saving the real world’ storylines.

Slightly ot: why’d jpn authorities send a teenage delinquent to go live at a pub with an asshole? Jpn social services on the level of Scotland’s confirmed.

Good thing about Persona games that each game has it own vibe and atmosphere, I don't want every Persona game to be like P4. Also compare to games like P2, Nocturne and Strange Journey, P5 is really not that dark.

 

[mejin]

Last of Us Part 2 is coming in Feb.

I mean TLoU 2 coming Feb 21, FFVII coming mar 03 and Royal coming in the same month. In a matter of 30 days or less...

 

[Danjin44]

I mean TLoU 2 coming Feb 21, FFVII coming mar 03 and Royal coming in the same month. In a matter of 30 days or less...

I would say the audience for TLoU is different than P5 audience, but FVIIR is going to be problem for P5R. I personally getting all three.

 

[mejin]

I would say the audience for TLoU is different than P5 audience, but FVIIR is going to be problem for P5R. I personally getting all three.

Oh, no doubt. That's my situation.

 

[Grinchy]

I wish I had waited. I liked the game a lot, but it dragged like crazy. I had to force myself through the last couple dungeons. And the way the story was told with everyone repeating the same things over and over after every event didn't help the pacing any.

 

[Dontero]

Hopefully it will run great on Yuzu. Absolutely hate this exclusivity bullshit.

 

[Punished Miku]

I honestly don't blame you, Atlus realy radio silent with that game. It could be they using entirely different engine instead of UE so the game might look different than what they originally showed us.

Persona 5 is a PS3 game and literally one of their of their first HD games even.

Atlus is EXTREMELYYYYYYYYYYYY SLOW.

 

[plushyp]

Does improved pacing mean they have added content/events to fill up the downtime with stuff to do or have they removed stuff? I ask because I've not played P5 and have played P2, P3:FES and P4 (Original).

 

[drganon]

Well, time to kiss another 100 hours goodbye

 

[KingT731]

Does improved pacing mean they have added content/events to fill up the downtime with stuff to do or have they removed stuff? I ask because I've not played P5 and have played P2, P3:FES and P4 (Original).

Hopefully that means they are doing something about those massive blocks of unplayable time after dungeons and days where you legit can't do anything.

 

[Danjin44]

Persona 5 is a PS3 game and literally one of their of their first HD games even.

Atlus is EXTREMELYYYYYYYYYYYY SLOW.

Actually Catherine in their first HD game.

 

[Starlight Lotice]

Given ATLUS's record with remakes, it honestly does make fans reconsider purchasing the original when the remake is only 2 years away now.

Happened for the Devil Summoner series as well...it sucks. They should have done a Sonic Mania, where the Plus is DLC for the original.

 

[SantaC]

I bought and beat the original version 2 years ago. Wont rebuy the game again unless they port it to PC.

 

[Danjin44]

Given ATLUS's record with remakes, it honestly does make fans reconsider purchasing the original when the remake is only 2 years away now.

Happened for the Devil Summoner series as well...it sucks. They should have done a Sonic Mania, where the Plus is DLC for the original.

I have zero regret buying the original version, I didn't want to wait 2 years play the game and I personally enjoyed the game enough that I'm willing replay it again with new extra features.

 

[Starlight Lotice]

I have zero regret buying the original version, I didn't want to wait 2 years play the game and I personally enjoyed the game enough that I'm willing replay it again with new extra features.

That's good to hear, but I do feel like ATLUS are exploiting their fans by doing that if they say that they are willing to buy the game again for 30% more content.

They could let you trade in P5 to get 50% off of P5R for the true fans, perhaps.