Persona 5: The Phantom Xdiverges from the trail of its spin-off predecessors, setting its sights on the mobile game industry. Though its development in China suggests a limited release, thePersona 5titlecould benefit from worldwide accessibility.
Persona 5’s release back in 2016 spurred interest from players yet acquainted with the series, cementing the title as one of Atlus' most successful for older fans and newcomers alike. Since then, the game has received a number of spin-offs and cast cameos across the franchise, furthering the Phantom Thieves' inclusion among its titles.Persona 5: Dancing in StarlightandPersona 5 Strikerssaw theP5team in two wildly different contexts, from choreographed dancing to musou-like slashing, while their inclusion inPQ2ushered in new interactions between the cast and theirPersona 3andPersona 4counterparts. While fans are still waiting onPersona 6news with bated breath, it seemsPersona 5isn’t quite done yet;Persona 5: The Phantom Xwill be its newest spin-off entry, taking a mobile game approach.
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A Persona 5 Mobile Game Could See International Success
There is still much to glean aboutThe Phantom X,though its biggest question comes in whether the title will see an international release. The game is currently in development by Black Wings Game Studio, a subsidiary of Chinese publisher Perfect World Games, whose mobile repertoire includes quite the list of fantasy and sci-fi related titles. BothThe Phantom X’s landing page and recently released trailer feature Chinese subtitles, with no news yet on whether the game will be localized for other languages or even available in other regions entirely. Still, fans, like YouTuber Faz, were quick to provide English subtitles, helping to give more context to the game’s teaser.
Persona 5: The Phantom Xseems to focus on the pursuits of a new protagonist, while including familiar locales and characters among its story. Featured in the trailer are the weapons dealer Munehisa Iwai andclinician Tae Takemi, two of the available confidants acrossP5and its enhanced editionP5 Royal,suggesting the spin-off takes place in the same universe as the base game. With settings like ‘Big Bang Burger’ and Yongen-Jaya’s batting cages in accompaniment to Mementos, it appears thatThe Phantom Xwill split its gameplay between dungeon crawling and life simulation, staying true to the series' core mechanics.
The Phantom Xappears to reskin much of the assets featured inP5’s base game, though there’s certainly a sense of ‘newness’ from the footage shown thus far; the title’s cast, mascot character, and Academy setting are among the more notable changes, while its take on an aquarium-styleVelvet Roomwith an intriguing new Attendant at Igor’s side has piqued the curiosity of fans. Footage from the game’s combat suggests the title will feature traditional turn-basedPersonafare with a more streamlined HUD, a design choice likely made to accommodateThe Phantom X’s platform. With its focus on a fresh set of characters alongside a new overarching story, the game certainly has promise for an international release, both in its narrative implications and in how well its turn-based gameplay would lend itself to mobile devices.
The trailer’s final moments feature a look at Joker back into the fray, indicating that the character will play a role inThe Phantom X.Fans have speculated that the rest of the Phantom Thieves crew will also make an appearance, a likely theory given the title’s spin-off nature. ThePersonagame could potentially take aFire Emblem: Engageapproach, where its original cast aids the new characters through special summons and assists, though it remains to be seen just how involved they’ll be among the title’s overarching narrative. Whatever directionThe Phantom Xtakes,one thing is clear: its connection toPersona 5makes it a worthy contender for worldwide success.
Persona 5: The Phantom Xis in development for mobile platforms.
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