When companies attempt to remake an adored classic, they often find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. Do too much, and you’ll get accused of messing with a timeless masterpiece. But, if you do too little, you’re merely seen as making a quick buck. Yet, what if the remake in question is a beloved JRPG from 2006, and the studio responsible is none other than Atlus?
With the release of Persona 3 Reload on the horizon, it seems this conundrum is very much the order of the day.
Announced during the recent Xbox Games Showcase, Persona 3 Reload is a full-on remake of the iconic PlayStation 2 title, which has commanded the loyalty of countless fans since its release almost two decades ago. With the promise of modern visuals, revamped combat, and an expanded Tartarus, the remake is poised to breathe new life into the darkly compelling world of S.E.E.S. Unfortunately, there are two issues with the game: the price tag and the fact that a “better” remake already exists.
According to a SEGA survey, the retail price of Persona 3 Reload might be set at a hefty $69.99. This revelation, revealed by a since-deleted tweet by Andres Lopez, quickly made waves across social media platforms. It’s true, many AAA developers have now adopted the $70 price point as standard. However, with Persona 3 Reload also coming to last-gen consoles, it’s generating discussions about whether the game can indeed justify its cost.
The price point issue doesn’t end there, however. Notably, the remake isn’t the “definitive” version of Persona 3, omitting a handful of content like the female protagonist, Kotone Shiomi, from Persona 3 Portable and The Answer playable segment from Persona 3 FES.
Fans have voiced concerns about this omission, causing a slight dampening of the excitement surrounding the remake’s release. There’s even cynicism that Atlus may re-release Reload with the omitted content as another game, potentially also priced at $70, recalling what happened with Royal before.
Given Atlus’s past handling of its products and pricing, it’s understandable why such apprehension exists. In the recent past, we’ve seen examples like the release of Soul Hackers 2 with additional content launched alongside the base game, as well as the separate DLCs for Dante and Raidou Kuzunoha in SMT III: Nocturne. In light of these events, speculation is rife about how Atlus will handle the content from Persona 3 FES and Portable in the upcoming remake.
Unsettlingly, the $69.99 price leak has driven some fans to state that they would only play the Xbox Game Pass version of Persona 3 Reload because of the high cost. SEGA’s comments earlier this year, indicating they were considering raising the price tag for its premium games while keeping an eye on market conditions, doesn’t help at all.
So, where does this leave us? As it stands, Atlus has yet to confirm the price or existence of additional content for Persona 3 Reload. New information about the game is expected to be revealed during each full moon leading up to the launch in early 2024. While Persona 3 Reload may indeed be an exciting journey into the heart of the Persona universe, it remains to be seen whether fans are willing to pay the price, quite literally, for this trip down memory lane.
