Persona 5 is widely considered by critics and fans to be a modern classic of the RPG genre. Originally released in 2016, Persona 5 is currently available on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 through backward compatibility. While Persona 5 isn’t a first-party PlayStation game, it has only been released for Sony consoles so far. Some gamers who use different platforms would love the opportunity to play the game, and there is perhaps a case to be made for it being launched on a wider variety of consoles. For Xbox specifically, Persona 5 could be a great addition to its lineup.
The mainline Persona games have generally been released in favor of PlayStation consoles. While it’s not public knowledge if the developer, Atlus, has a specific arrangement with Sony, PlayStation consoles have benefitted from Persona games launching on the systems for several years now. Persona series spinoffs have branched out to other consoles, most notably Nintendo machines, but the main series hasn’t truly done so as of yet. Persona 4 Golden was released on PC in 2020 in an enhanced version, and perhaps this could be indicative of Atlus branching out to other platforms. A Persona 5 release on Xbox consoles could be great for both the series and Microsoft.
Since Microsoft’s buyout of Bethesda has been made official, Xbox has become a premier platform for RPGs in the eyes of many gamers. The Bethesda catalog is filled with classics from The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, which are now more accessible than ever on Xbox Game Pass. In addition to the Bethesda titles, Microsoft previously bought out Obsidian Entertainment, the famed developers of Fallout: New Vegas, the Pillars of Eternity series, and the upcoming action-RPG, Avowed. With such a huge selection of western RPGs, Persona 5 on Xbox could add some variety.
Some gamers have been yearning for some more Japanese-focus from Xbox. Xbox has had a difficult time over the years with success in Japanese markets, despite some well-received attempts on Xbox 360 to break new ground with the likes of Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, visited Japan in 2020 but later denied the trip was about buying up Japan-based development teams, much to the dismay of some Xbox gamers. Persona 5 on Xbox would freshen up the current selection of RPGs and set a new precedent for the series to move beyond PlayStation exclusivity in the new generation.
Generally speaking, Nintendo tends to dominate hardware and software sales in Japan, but that doesn’t mean Xbox can’t carve out more of a niche for itself in the region. Xbox isn’t without Japanese-developed titles, but it’s well known in gaming circles that the brand has somewhat struggled with breaking ground in the area. A Persona 5 release on Xbox would not only break the cycle of PlayStation exclusivity but also possibly introduce a whole new audience to Xbox. Persona 5 is extremely popular in its home market of Japan, and bringing the series to Xbox could bring those fans with it to experience what the brand has to offer. A release on Xbox Game Pass specifically would make the game very accessible to players who are new to Microsoft consoles. As a byproduct of an Xbox Game Pass release, new Xbox owners might be encouraged to try out the other titles available on the service.
If Persona 5 on Xbox was successful, there would be a strong case to be made for other Persona games to come to Xbox, and other Japanese-developed games in general. There is already an built-in audience of Xbox gamers who would love to see more Japanese representation on the consoles and a successful Persona 5 release could encourage other developers to release their titles on Xbox. This could be a critical release for Xbox and its hopes for success in Japan.
Nintendo and Sony are renowned for exclusive games, and while most of these are first-party titles, some notable third-party games only appear on specific consoles. The mainline Persona series games have generally only launched on PlayStation consoles, except for the Persona 4 Golden PC port in 2020. Once upon a time, Metal Gear Solid and Tomb Raider games defaulted to PlayStation consoles despite not being owned by Sony. Persona 5 launching on Xbox would be a step towards reducing third-party exclusive numbers and could challenge the expectation that most Japanese-developed games will only launch on Nintendo or Sony machines.
Importantly, this could provide gamers with more choices than before. If Persona 5 launched on Xbox, a gamer wouldn’t have to get it on PlayStation to experience it and would instead be able to play it on whichever platform they preferred. Rather than gamers defaulting to a specific console out of necessity, there would be an element of choice involved. A launch on Xbox Game Pass could be a great move for Microsoft as well, considering the service has millions of subscribers who could try the game without incurring additional financial costs. This could open the door for potential new fans of the series as much as it could draw attention to Xbox in one of its less popular regions.
If Persona 5 released on Xbox, it could break open some new opportunities and make fundamental changes as the industry moves into the new console generation. Xbox could see benefit with more Japanese developer support and fandom surrounding its brand in a region it hasn’t seen much success. A successful Persona 5 launch could open the door for more popular Japanese games to come to Xbox as well. With the possibility for more choices being offered to gamers, it’s a win-win scenario for Persona 5 on Xbox for everyone involved.
Persona 5 is available now on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.
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