Phantom Thief, Morgana, joins the Monkey Gang in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania as post-launch DLC!

An announcement was made at this year’s Gamescom Opening Night Live that some of you might have never seen coming as Persona 5’s Phantom Thief, Morgana, will be joining the Monkey Gang in Super Monkey Ball as a post-launch DLC character and will feature the ability to collect treasure boxes across numerous stages. The feisty Phantom Thief will arrive on November 2nd for $4.99 USD (or equivalent) across all platforms. Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania will be available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X on October 5, 2021.

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Steam | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One | Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X/S

Persona 5 Strikers coming West to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Steam on February 23rd, 2021

The wait for Persona 5 Strikers is almost over! I know there has been a lot of upset fans that Persona 5 Strikers had been pretty hush, hush on its release in the West. This trailer was actually leaked, so its not ‘OFFICIALLY’ announced yet.  Persona 5 Scramble actually came out earlier this year in Japan, in February. That means that it will be 1 year that we get it in the West. Its not that bad of a turn around. The game takes the Dynasty Warriors hack and slash style and combines it with Persona 5‘s great storytelling and characters. Even better? This is suppose to serve as a sequel to the original game.

2020 is so crazy that now Persona is real time combat and Yakuza is a turn based game. Wow.

There was rumors that Koei Tecmo put on their finanical report that they weren’t publishing this title in the West, that’s because its being published by Atlus (aka SEGA basically). As always, I’m super excited to return to the world of Persona 5 and see where this game takes the franchise.

Persona 5: The Animation Getting Blu-Ray Set This September With English Dub

During the Aniplex Online Fest which was held during the Fourth of July weekend, we found out that we will soon be getting the Persona 5: The Animation Complete Blu-Ray Set.

If you have been waiting for the physical release of the anime, the Blu-ray will include all 26 episodes and two specials. This version will also have the original Japanese track and include a brand new English dub. The box set will also come with 12 art cards featuring the main characters. But all this will cost you $298.98. Yeah, expensive.

Here are also the voice actors for the English dub:

  • Ren Amamiya: Xander Mobus
  • Ryuji Sakamoto: Max Mittelman
  • Ann Takamaki: Erika Harlacher
  • Morgana: Cassandra Lee Morris
  • Yusuke Kitagawa: Matt Mercer
  • Makoto Niijima: Cherami Leigh
  • Futaba Sakura: Erica Lindbeck
  • Haru Okumura: Xanthe Huynh
  • Goro Akechi: Robbie Daymond

You can pick up Persona 5: The Animation Complete Blu-Ray on September 29, 2020.

Atlus & SEGA Creators Talk 2020 and Future Goals

The Japanese gaming website 4Gamer & Famtisu runs a piece every year talking to Japanese developers about their yearly goals, every New Years. This time it seems a bit special considering we are going into a brand new decade, 2020. Or is it 2021?

Most of the answers here from Atlus and one SEGA developer comes from the Famitsu article and was translated by Gematsu.

Persona 5 The Royal to release on March 31st 2020 in western territories, Phantom Thieves Edition announced

The western release date for Persona 5 The Royal has been revealed for March 31st 2020. This updated version of Persona 5 keeps the base game, but expands on it with new content. This includes a new party member called Kasumi Yoshizawa, a new area of Tokyo to explore, new Social Links, a new story arc, and more. It will be exclusive to the Playstation 4.

In addition, Atlus has revealed a new special edition of the game, officially called the Phantom Thieves Edition. This Phantom Thieves Edition will come packed with the game, Joker’s mask with a stand, steel book, soundtrack, collector’s box, art book, and a dynamic Playstation 4 theme. However the regular prints will also include the steel book and dynamic Playstation 4 theme too. You can pre-order the standard or the Phantom Thieves Edition below from Amazon, priced at $59.99 and $89.99 respectively.

Standard | Phantom Thieves Edition

Persona 5 Royal debuts in first place in Japan, beats out Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Mario & Sonic at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

It looks like its a big month for SEGA and Atlus in Japan since they released both Persona 5 Royal and Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games come out the same week. Surprisingly enough, Persona 5 Royal (201,448 units sold) did so well that it beat Nintendo’s Luigi’s Mansion 3 (150,649 units) by over 50k units.

I think its surprising because Persona 5 Royal is a ‘complete’ version of Persona 5 which launched with 264,793 units on PS4 (72,974 units on PS3). Sure, Persona 5 Royal sold less than the original but its still selling better than the last ‘highest selling Persona game’ before Persona 5, Persona 4 Golden which launched with 137,076 units. This shows you that re-releasing acclaimed games with more content isn’t a bad strategy and it seems Atlus fans come out and purchase these new versions.

Nintendo fans might think its disappointing to see Luigi’s Mansion 3 on Nintendo Switch not make it at number one, but this entry is the highest selling entry in Japan with 150,649 units compared to Luigi’s Manson: Dark Moon which launched with 110,840 units in 2013.

But what about Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games?

Atlus shows 11 minutes of Persona 5 Royal’s prologue gameplay

Atlus has streamed the first 11 minutes of Persona 5 Royal‘s gameplay during the latest “Let’s Players Gathering! Persona 5 Royal Newcomer Preparation Special” broadcast. Yeah, that’s a mouthful.

While its been awhile since I played Persona 5, the game obviously didn’t feature new character Kasumi Yoshizawa, which is now present in the prologue gameplay. Its odd that they had her appear so early, so we’ll see how they weave her into the game’s story.

Persona 5 Royal is set to release in Japan on October 31, exclusive on the PlayStation 4 and is heading West sometime in Spring 2020. The gameplay starts at 1:52:39 to 2:03:50, if it doesn’t autoplay at the start.

[Via: Gematsu]

Atlus releases Persona 5 Royal opening movie

Atlus has now released the opening movie for the upcoming Persona 5 Royal. They have also confirmed that they will also have Persona 5 Royal playable at the SEGA / Atlus booth at this year’s Tokyo Game Show 2019 from September 12 through the 15th.

If you live in Japan, you’ll be able to play Persona 5 Royal on PlayStation 4 on October 31st; the rest of us have to wait until Spring 2020.

Joker coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on April 17th, new trailer goes in depth over Joker gameplay

Nintendo has finally dropped information on when Joker will steal your stocks in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, on April 17th (aka tomorrow). In addition, Nintendo has released a new trailer that goes into great extent over how Joker plays, plus other content from the Persona series. Joker by himself primarily uses a mixture of his knife and pistol to rake up damage, giving him solid ranged and close combat capabilities. But his main gimmick is the ability to summon his Persona Arsene by filling up a gauge, which causes his normal attacks to have additional power and his Specials to change completely as long as Arsene is summoned. He has two different costumes, ones based on his Phantom Thief persona, and the other based on his school uniform, and his taunts can summon Morgana.

Along with Joker, he will be accompanied by a new stage called Mementos, based on the location from Persona 5, the stage receiving music tracks throughout the Persona series, and the addition of Spirits from the Persona series being included. Additionally, new Mii costumes based on Persona 3 and Persona 4 characters will be included, along with the return of the Tails and Knuckles Mii costumes from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS.

So when you get the chance, try out Joker in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and comment on your first impressions.

Rumor: Best Buy leaks Persona 5 S for Nintendo Switch early?


Its not a secret that Atlus has a game called “Persona 5 S”, they teased it and said we would get more information on April 25th.

But it looked like we didn’t have to wait too long for more information since a Best Buy employee system started listing a ton of unreleased Nintendo Switch games including Persona 5, Metroid Prime Trilogy and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. As you know, none of these titles have been officially announced.

Seeing that Joker is in Smash Bros, don’t be shocked that April 25th is the official reveal of the character along with the announcement with Persona 5 coming to Switch.

[Via: Wario64]

Persona 5 The Royal officially revealed, teases new female character and more information in April

Atlus of Japan has officially revealed the long rumored Persona 5-related game, a seemingly new game titled Persona 5 The Royal likely planned for the Playstation 4. Not much new information about the game itself has been revealed, but the trailer puts heavy emphasis on a new female character. Based on the very few pieces of information, said character is a first year student who apparently resents the Phantom Thieves, feeling that they don’t actually solve the problems they claim to being fixing. What her exact role in the game is currently unknown.

However, this ties into another rumor that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will introduce a female counterpart to Joker, based on data mining finding code talking about “Jane” as an alternative costume and having a ponytail, the latter notably matching with the design of the new female character teased. Atlus is also promising more information about Persona 5 The Royal on April 24th, which is also coincidentally the same month when Joker is planned to be available in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. A possible simultaneous reveal? Well whatever your stance is, Persona 5 The Royal is already shaping up to be an interesting direction in the Persona series.

[Source: Official Website]

Atlus launches Play Survey to determine the future of Persona, Catherine, Etrian Odyssey, and more

Atlus posted a brand new Player Survery to get feedback “to help us determine the next steps for some of our most popular series, including Persona, Catherine, Etrian Odyssey, and more.”

Take the survey!

The questionnaire asks users what previous Atlus games would you wanna see more content for (possibly gearing up for future re-releases), what you want to see more of in the future, how you buy games (digital or physical) and a lot more including asking users if they buy Collector’s Edition versions of games. If you are a big fan of Atlus’ properities, you should definitely take the survey.

Rumors of Persona 5 coming to Nintendo Switch unsurprisingly gaining traction online

It was just announced the other day that Joker from Persona 5 will be featured in Super Smash Bros Ultimate as the first character in the season pass. This obviously got people excited and unsurprisingly started rumors about Persona 5 heading to Nintendo Switch. This rumor comes from MysticDistance, a writer for Persona Central and KHInsider which he said:

  • Persona 5 is heading to Nintendo Switch in 2019
  • The Nintendo Switch version will be announced the day Joker is playable and ready to download for Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
  • The version will have a brand new title (not uncommon at all for Atlus re-releases)
  • It will also have “adjustments to the game, additional aspects to the scenario, and other wanted auditions” (again, not uncommon see Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden)
  • The Nintendo Switch port has been in discussion since mid-2017
  • The game’s name is based on a domain that Atlus recently registered

To be honest, this rumor seems to be a fan just making a very obvious guess. I mean he only got this top secret information about Persona 5 coming to Nintendo Switch after the big Joker reveal was done out of nowhere. If he made it before, that would be something. If Persona 5 is being brought to Nintendo Switch, it will 100% have a new title and new features. Atlus already talked about how its company policy to add more content every time a game is re-released, thus why we have stuff like Persona 4: Golden and Persona 3 Portable differing from the original releases. The domain talk also lines up since back April 2017 we discussed new domains that hinted at possible Persona spin-off titles including P5AG (After Golden?), P5D (Dancing?), P5R (Ruby?) and P5U (Ultimax?)  I won’t be too shocked if this is true considering Atlus always does this. My only beef is that they should make the new, definite version on all platforms including Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Get those sales!

[Via: GoNintendo]

Persona 5’s Joker joins the Super Smash Bros Ultimate roster

It was just announced at The Video Game Awards that Persona 5‘s main protagonist, Joker, will be added to Super Smash Bros Ultimate. This wouldn’t be the first time Atlus and Nintendo crossed paths, prior to this Atlus developed the Nintendo crossover title Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE and now Nintendo has included Joker in Smash Bros! That means that the Persona franchise is just bound to get more fans.

Can you see a Persona 5 re-release on Nintendo Switch soon? I can.

Japanese PlayStation Awards certify Persona 5 as a million plus seller, Yakuza: Kiwami 2 wins ‘Users Choice Award’


The Japanese only PlayStation Awards have announced all the winners, a few included SEGA made/owned IPs like Persona 5 and Yakuza: Kiwami 2. Persona 5 was one of the only two recently released titles in Japan to sell over a million copies earning it the Platinum Prize. To get this award you have to ship over a million units, which could include digital sales. The only other game to get the Platinum Prize was The Last of Use Remastered! On the other hand Monster Hunter: World got the ‘Quadruple Platinum Prize’ which means it sold over 4 million units! That’s Japan and Asia only, which is freaking insane.

To show you how big this is for the Persona franchise, we found out that God of War, Gran Turismo Sport, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Call of Duty: WWII all managed to get the Gold Prize, which means they sold just over 500,000 units (under a million of course). Those are all big titles. As for Yakuza: Kiwami 2, it was part of the top ten titles voted by Japan and Asian users (games released from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018). My only issue is that games that didn’t come out in this time period (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey) got into the top ten user voted list. You can check out all the awards given over at Gematsu.