Persona 3 remake and Persona 5 tactics spin-off announced, following leaks

Update: Yup, it's official, obvs. More info and better-quality trailers added below.

In this week of oh so many announcements, you can't blame anyone for getting carried away and jumping the gun. Unfortunately for Persona developers Atlus, it seems they accidentally announced two games earlier than intended. Eagle-eyed fans say Atlus's Instagram today posted trailers for Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the 2006 RPG, and grid-based tactics spin-off Persona 5 Tactica. While they're no longer on the Insta, folks say they've saved the trailers so you can see them too.

Here's Persona 5 Tactica, a grid-based tactics "strategy RPG adventure" spin-off launching November 17th on PC and Xboxes, including on Game Pass:

As for Persona 3 Reload, Atlus now say it's the classic RPG "faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI," as well as "new scenes, character interactions, and additional voiceover." It's arriving in early 2024 on PC and Xboxes, including Game Pass.

P3R producer Ryota Niitsuma and chief director Kazuhisa Wada told IGN that Reload won't include additional content added with two re-releases, P3 FES and P3 Portable. A female protagonist option was one such newbit, added in P3P, so it seems that might not be an option here. That would be a shame.

Judging by the Xbox livery on the trailers, these announcements were possibly planned for Sunday's big Xbox Games Showcase. Welp. Vague rumours about a Persona 3 remake were already going already and this sure makes them look a whole lot firmer. If this were all a hoax, it would be a big effort. YUP

Persona 3 first launched in 2006 on PlayStation 2, telling another tale of teenagers who balance their time between their schoolwork, their social lives, and their secret mission to battle dark forces using supernatural powers. It only came to PC in January 2023 with a port of 2009's handheld PlayStation Portable release, hitting Steam and Game Pass. Now I guess we're getting a fancy full remake barely a year later. Typical: you wait for one Persona 3, then two coming along at once.

Our Ed started playing Persona 3 Portable after it finally hit PC, and was surprised and delighted that it doesn't feel nearly outdated as he'd feared. "Not only does it stand on its own as a fun high school mystery with an alarmingly dark undertone, it almost acts as a fun history lesson too," he said.

NotE3 and Summer Game Fest 2023 is over for another year. You can find out all the latest news by visiting our E3 2023 hub, or you can catch up with our round-up posts of everything that was announced at Summer Game Fest, the Xbox Games Showcase, the PC Gaming Show, Day Of The Devs, and our top highlights from the Wholesome Direct.