And with the Persona series finally coming to other platforms, it’s high time that Atlus follow suit with Persona 6. Even though the next entry is probably a long way from release, the fans would no doubt appreciate multiplatform accessibility on day one. It’d also be a smart move on Atlus’ part, especially when considering the series’ relationship with emulation.

RELATED: Persona 6 Should Change the Pace of Party Member Introduction

The Persona Series’ Long History with Emulation

The Persona games have always been released on PlayStation consoles. Persona 1 and the Persona 2 games were initially released for PS1. This was followed by Persona 3 and Persona 4 on PS2. Finally, Persona 5 was released for PS3 and PS4. These games were then rereleased to other PlayStation platforms, such as PSP and PS Vita.

This exclusivity inevitably led to a boom in emulator use among Persona fans. Such programs allowed PC and mobile users to run another computing system on their device. The most commonly used ones were the PS2 and PSP emulators as a majority of players could use them to play iterations of Persona 3 (Portable and FES) and Persona 4.

By the time Persona 5 rolled around, however, Atlus had caught wind of the community’s emulator use. And in an announcement from 2017 titled “ATLUS and Emulation,” the company revealed that it issued a DMCA takedown notice to RPCS3 — a well-known PS3 emulator. Atlus’ reasoning was that its titles, primarily Persona 5, should be enjoyed on the platforms they were developed for. The company also expressed that it was aware fans wanted PC ports, then invited users to comment what they thought.

Many commented that Atlus should extend its series to other platforms. And to the community’s surprise, Atlus did just that with Persona 4 Golden in 2020. This was followed by the current year’s bombshell of an announcement: the last three Persona games are now slated for release on multiple platforms. Finally, Persona fans could play the games without having to resort to emulation.

Persona 6 Should Be Made for Multiple Platforms

This is a trend Atlus would do well to continue. Perhaps PlayStation exclusivity was the better option for Persona 1 all the way to Persona 4 as the game was still a niche gem in the gaming industry. However, following the boom in popularity with Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal, the multiplatform approach may be the optimal choice. The recent news on Persona ports is proof of this.

As such, it’d be a good idea to release Persona 6 to multiple platforms on day one. This maximizes the game’s reach, allowing more fans to easily acquire the next-gen Persona game. The less need there is for emulation, the less likely it’ll be a problem.

With all that said, it’s important to note that Atlus hasn’t yet made any announcements on Persona 6. Thus, the community is still mostly in the dark with what the next entry might entail. Persona 6 could be multiplatform upon initial release, but it could also follow Atlus’ longstanding tradition of Persona PlayStation exclusivity. After all, Sony has had a long history of PlayStation exclusives. It’s hard to say what Atlus might decide on, but until the inevitable announcement comes, at least fans can enjoy the last three main games of the series on their chosen platform.

Persona 6 is in development.

MORE: Persona 6 Needs Dungeons as Compelling as P5’s Palaces