Atlus Should Follow Segas Simultaneous Worldwide Release Plans for Persona 6

Atlus Should Follow Sega’s Simultaneous Worldwide Release Plans for Persona 6

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Sega’s recent strategy of simultaneously releasing flagship games around the globe is a player-friendly move that Atlus should adopt for Persona 6.

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Atlus Should Follow Segas Simultaneous Worldwide Release Plans for Persona 6

Thanks to the successes of Persona 5 and its spinoffs, the Persona franchise as a whole is flying higher and farther than anyone would have imagined prior to the game’s release. In the space of a single entry, Persona has transformed from a niche series of cult classics and joined the Final Fantasy-weight class of iconic JRPG franchises. The new domains Atlus has secured for more spin-offs are hardly surprising, and more evidence of the game’s wild success. But Atlus can do even more for the franchise, starting with its next installment.

Following the tremendous success of Yakuza: Like A Dragon’s global launch, Sega recently announced its intentions to release future Atlus games simultaneously worldwide. After international fans waited a full year for the release of Persona 5 Strikers, the Musuo-style follow-up to Persona 5, this is not merely a convenience or quality of life improvement. It has the potential to transform the Persona franchise all over again, for the better.

There are many reasons for Atlus to adopt Sega’s new release policy for Persona. First and foremost, it is a player-friendly move that demonstrates respect and professional courtesy for customers, but it is also pragmatic from a business and branding standpoint. Even the challenges associated with a simultaneous worldwide release present the developer with opportunities for improvements.

Preventing Spoilers

Atlus Should Follow Segas Simultaneous Worldwide Release Plans for Persona 6

When a single post is all it takes to spoil a story for the whole world, simultaneous global releases should become the new norm. Holding a title back by a few months—or even a full year—to finish localization will preserve the creative integrity of the game for all fans. In a series like Persona, whose characters have compelling arcs with numerous discrete plot points, the story is the very soul of the game, and it should be protected accordingly. There are so many opportunities for discussion that any advanced warning for one group of gamers can spread like wildfire.

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One might argue that eager fans should just steer clear of the internet, or at least the parts of it that discuss a title before its international release. But in a world where the internet is both a business essential and the world’s greatest forum for socializing and entertainment, no amount of prudence can completely protect audiences from potentially ruinous spoilers. Something as simple as a telling hashtag, errant post, or even an old-fashioned slip of the tongue can spoil surprises.

Furthermore, the expectation that passionate fans steer clear of speculation and information about a title they have been anticipating for years is as selfish as it is untenable. Anticipation is an enormous part of enjoying things. The ability to hope and wonder about a title, the anxious “Night Before Christmas” energy that gradually wells up as a release date draws near are privileges that should be extended to everybody.

Improved Localization, Extra Polish, and Quashing Crunch

Atlus Should Follow Segas Simultaneous Worldwide Release Plans for Persona 6

Atlus’ titles feature some of the best localization in the industry. They must be good in order to convey stories that are as multifaceted and nuanced as those in Persona. Collaboration is doubtlessly a big part of that process, and by bringing in international collaborators in earlier on, the final product can reach an unprecedented level of polish. When a game is released in Japan before the rest of the world, Atlus is already sprinting to catch up with the international release, which means localizers and voice actors are inevitably rushed. Even though crunch culture is the norm for the video game industry on both sides of the Pacific, it is a harmful business practice that should be phased out.

Localization is no meager undertaking. There is a reason why certain games have yet to be imported, despite calls from fans as has been the tragic case with Mother 3. It also isn’t a quick process. Some lag is inevitable—it is intrinsic to the nature of translation. But those delays present developers with an important opportunity. While working on script translations and voice acting, other teams can tackle fixes at a more reasonable pace. And if they have time left over after the essentials have been dealt with, they can implement new features, refine existing systems, optimize load times, and meticulously squash bugs. The end result is a better gaming experience for all players. Even those forced to wait will see a marked benefit.

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Admittedly, this is an idyllic proposition, and the challenges associated with that undertaking would require some truly artful project management. There will be hiccups. There will be delays, and the wait between mainstream entries in the Persona franchise is already torturous. But Persona fans have already proven themselves patient. And for a series that is finally getting the mainstream recognition it deserves, why play it safe? Atlus should be optimistic. It should strive for that farfetched ideal. Because the Persona series stands to benefit as much as the players.

Global Launches Force Multiply Hype

Game launches are the culmination of thousands of hours of work and deserve to be celebrated. The total excitement of a global launch is not only fun for a game’s community; it will also help Atlus’ Persona franchise reach new heights of popularity, which is an ambitious goal given success of Persona 5. But hype is infectious. It also gains momentum with mass. The resulting force can be destructive if a game fails to live up to the promises made by its marketing, as demonstrated by Cyberpunk 2077. But if the title is solid and the whole world is playing, talking, and writing about it simultaneously? The sky is no longer the limit—not only for that specific title, but the entire series moving forward.

Once a franchise adopts a global launch strategy, it doesn’t go back to the minor leagues. If Persona 6 sees a sales boost like Yakuza: Like A Dragon did on top of the series’ new-found popularity thanks to Persona 5, Royal, and Strikers, the return on investment and boost in brand recognition alone will be well-worth the trouble. It could even mean the difference between being a solid seller and becoming one of Sega’s tentpole franchises.

Persona 6 has yet to be announced.

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