Atlus clarifies Persona 3 Reload content in new interview

by Josh Tolentino on 13 June, 2023

The development team at Atlus has clarified more about what it means when Persona 3 Reload "won't include" content from earlier releases of the game. A new interview published in the Japanese outlet Famitsu shed some more light on the situation.

Involving Chief Director Kazuhisa Wada, Producer Ryota Niitsuma, and Persona Team Director Takuya Yamaguchi, the interview covered Atlus' stance and goals for the remake of one of the company's most iconic titles.

Regarding the inclusion of content from Persona 3 FES and Persona 3 Portable, the team, Niitsuma responded by saying, in effect, that the scope of Reload is the same as that of the original release of Persona 3. Meaning the epilogue to the story added in FES (known as "The Answer") and the female protagonist option added in Portable aren't part of that scope. However, he said that not all of the additions subsequent rereleases made are off the table. Niitsuma referred particularly to the extra content added to the main campaign (called "The Journey") in FES as an example.

Released in 2007, Persona 3 FES added new elements like additional Social Link stories for characters like Aigis, as well as story moments, playable Personas, and adjustments to the daily life schedule.

Elsewhere in the interview, Yamaguchi also shed more light on what the team plans to add to spice up The Journey campaign for Reload. Yamaguchi referred to new opportunities for players to deepen their relationship with friends separately from Social Link activities. Niitsuma also referred to the new version of Tartarus, the game's main dungeon. Tartarus will receive a top-to-bottom visual update, and its maps will include more elements that encourage exploration and engagement. Players will also be able to sprint on the dungeon map. The original version of Tartarus used semi-randomized map designs, explorable in "blocks".

Persona 3 Reload is in development and will release in early 2024. It is currently confirmed for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.