A new rumor has surfaced regarding how Persona 6, the new JRPG by Atlus, could be a PS5 exclusive.
It's no secret Persona 6 is in development at Atlus and Sega. Atlus already teased the game with the series 25th anniversary merch, and a big announcement is planned for Fall 2022. Now, a rumor is claiming Persona 6 would be revealed as a PlayStation 5 exclusive.
Where is the new Persona 6 rumor from?
The Persona 6 being a PS5 exclusive rumor was first shared on a podcast by an insider called Nate the Hate. Several hours after the podcast was published on YouTube, Kitguru Gaming pointed it out and it was shared on Reddit Gaming Leaks.
In the podcast, at around 59:50, Nate the Hate mentions believing Persona 6 will be announced as a PS5 exclusive. But doesn't mention if this is due to insider info, or speculation. The podcast also included other leaks or rumors. But all of it has already been shared, or are logical remarks. Most notably regarding unannounced switch games Xenoblade 3 and a new Fire Emblem.
- MORE - Persona 25th anniversary teaser
Could Persona 6 be a PS5 exclusive?
Personally speaking, I believe it's unlikely Persona 6 will be a PS5 exclusive for several reasons. First, Atlus launched Persona 5 on September 15, 2016. And it was a PS3 game with a PS4 version.
Since then, Atlus has been working on or released Catherine Full Body, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Persona 3 and 5 Dancing, Persona 5 Royal, Shin Megami Tensei V, and Project Re Fantasy among other projects. It's likely Persona 6 has been in development since then as well, meaning development would have started on PS4.
Secondly, it's still incredibly difficult to find a PS5 in Japan. The lottery system is still in place, and every day, gaming outlets publish articles sharing where you could potentially get a console. Showing how scarce stocks are. While Persona is now a mainstream worldwide franchise, I doubt Sega would take the risk of making it a PS5 exclusive without a PS4 version. Seeing the PS5 situation in Japan. Unless Sony would specifically ask them to do that.
Last but not least, Japanese studios always take several years to fully switch from one generation to another ever since the switch to HD. Companies like Bandai Namco, Koei Tecmo and the like are all launching games as cross generation, and it's unlikely to stop until a few more years.