I was initially skeptical of the new demo that came out recently for Persona 3 Reloaded, but now I understand why it is coming. The demo confused me because it came so long after the game's release. It looked quite different from a similar demo put out recently by Atlus So I was not sure why such a big change was happening.
Metaphor: Refantazio's demo came out shortly before the games release and it allowed you to carry over your progress into the main game. Persona 3 Reloaded's demo works similarly but it is timing is odd. I was expecting it to be offered around the time of Persona 3: Episode Aegis The Answer's release, in order to attract more players to the new release but it is been seven months since the game received any new content and I expect most interested players have already purchased it. However recent rumors may explain why it is coming out now.
Persona 3 Reload Gets a Generous Demo Ahead of Its Full Release
Atlus released it is Persona 3 Reload demo six days ago and it is actually a much more generous sample than I expected. The demo includes about a month of in-game time, meaning you will be able to play the (extremely slow) opening section of the game, experience a good portion of The basic gameplay loop involves playing through the game and fighting the first Full Moon boss. So That's a lot of gameplay time up to seven hours according to some and it is more than enough to know if you're interested in a Persona game.
As far as demos go I'd consider Persona 3 Reload to be more generous. Most of the demos I have played just give you a small sample of the game which ends up forcing you to buy the full game. While Persona 3 Reload's seven hours would definitely have compelled me to buy it if I had not a already bought it. I could see some players getting annoyed, and deciding that the demo was enough for them. I believe a shorter runtime could help attract more players to Persona 3 Reloaded but it should not be the only focus of the demo.
Persona 3 Demo Could Boost Franchise Interest Before Major Announcement
It is a very possible that Atlus wants to not only sell more copies of Persona 3 Reloaded. but also generate some interest in the franchise in general. After its release in China, Persona fans have been waiting for an announcement about a wider release of Persona 5: The Phantom Axe. It is been almost nine years since Persona 5 originally came out so I wouldn't be surprised to see a potential update on Persona 6 soon. Given how previous titles were announced, some players even think they know when these announcements are coming.
Since both Metaphor: Refantazio and Persona 3 Reloaded were originally announced at an Xbox Games Showcase as part of the 2023 Summer Game Fest. it is being speculated that Atlus will make another announcement at the event in June this year. With Atlus having several games to be announced in 2023 the Persona 3 Reloaded demo could also serve as a prelude to multiple announcements. While I would not be too surprised to see some information about Persona 5: The Phantom Axe and the Persona 6 reveal would be a welcome surprise another announcement is still likely.
Rumor Persona 4 Remake Set to Be Announced Soon
There have been rumors about a Persona 4 remake for some time. Recently, a website domain was registered that was almost identical to Persona 3 Reloaded's. The Persona 3 Reload site was registered a few months before it is unveiling. which would be roughly the same timeframe if the Persona 4 remake is announced in June. Singer Shihoko Hirata who worked on the original Persona 4 soundtrack also recently announced that she was recording for an unannounced game. Although it is not confirmed and there are more signs pointing to a Persona 4 remake rather than Persona 6.
While a Persona 4 remake would be my personal choice - and Persona 5: The Phantom Axe is at the bottom of my wish list and I would still be happy with any Persona announcement. I hope SoI am right that the Persona 3 Reloaded demo is being used to generate some excitement for the franchise before a new game is released. Even if I am wrong and I still suggest trying the demo if you have not played the game before. It will help you decide if you should be as excited as I am about the potential Persona game announcements.
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