There’s been plenty of debate on whetherPersona 6will be a PlayStation Exclusive on release. After all, that’s been the case for all the previous mainlinePersonagames. Though it seems like this time may be different, especially following Atlus’ decision toportPersona 3,Persona 4, andPersona 5to PC, Xbox, newer PS models, and Switch.
And with thePersonaseries finally coming to other platforms, it’s high time that Atlus follow suit withPersona 6. Even though the next entry is probably a long way from release, the fans would no doubt appreciate multiplatform accessibility on day one. It’d also be a smart move on Atlus’ part, especially when considering the series’ relationship with emulation.
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The Persona Series’ Long History with Emulation
ThePersonagames have always been released on PlayStation consoles.Persona 1and thePersona 2games were initially released for PS1. This was followed byPersona 3andPersona 4on PS2. Finally,Persona 5was released for PS3 and PS4. These games were then rereleased to other PlayStation platforms, such as PSP and PS Vita.
This exclusivity inevitably led to a boom in emulator use amongPersonafans. Such programs allowed PC and mobile users to run another computing system on their device. The most commonly used ones were the PS2 and PSP emulators as a majority of players could use them toplay iterations ofPersona 3(Portable and FES)andPersona 4.
By the timePersona 5rolled around, however, Atlus had caught wind of the community’s emulator use. And in an announcement from 2017 titled “ATLUS and Emulation,” the company revealed that it issued a DMCA takedown notice to RPCS3 — a well-known PS3 emulator. Atlus’ reasoning was that its titles, primarilyPersona 5, should be enjoyed on the platforms they were developed for. The company also expressed that it was aware fans wanted PC ports, then invited users to comment what they thought.
Many commented that Atlus should extend its series to other platforms. And to the community’s surprise, Atlus did just that withPersona 4 Goldenin 2020. This was followed by the current year’s bombshell of an announcement: the last threePersonagames are now slated for release on multiple platforms. Finally,Personafans could play the games without having to resort to emulation.
Persona 6 Should Be Made for Multiple Platforms
This is a trend Atlus would do well to continue. Perhaps PlayStation exclusivity was the better option forPersona 1all the way toPersona 4as the game was still a niche gem in the gaming industry. However, following the boom inpopularity withPersona 5andPersona 5 Royal, the multiplatform approach may be the optimal choice. The recent news onPersonaports is proof of this.
As such, it’d be a good idea toreleasePersona 6to multiple platformson day one. This maximizes the game’s reach, allowing more fans to easily acquire the next-genPersonagame. The less need there is for emulation, the less likely it’ll be a problem.
With all that said, it’s important to note that Atlus hasn’t yet made any announcements onPersona 6. Thus, the community is still mostly in the dark with what the next entry might entail.Persona 6could be multiplatform upon initial release, but it could also follow Atlus’longstanding tradition ofPersonaPlayStation exclusivity. After all, Sony has had a long history of PlayStation exclusives. It’s hard to say what Atlus might decide on, but until the inevitable announcement comes, at least fans can enjoy the last three main games of the series on their chosen platform.
