After months of endless waiting and anticipation, Persona 5: The Phantom X is finally confirmed for release on Steam — but there's a little twist. ATLUS (working with SEGA on this spinoff) has confirmed that this particular Steam release will be exclusive to Japan for now, pretty much to the surprise of international fans.
The news has left them eagerly waiting for an extension to their own regions. The game, which was originally launched in China earlier this year, blends the vibrant RPG elements of Persona 5 with a new mobile and PC experience.
Steam Release Limited to Japan
Scheduled for its release in Japan via Steam, Persona 5: The Phantom X has continued to rise in popularity following successful launches in other Eastern Asia regions (like China, Taiwan, and South Korea).
That said, this spin-off game has gotten quite the attention and raised a lot of interest from global fans, especially since it mirrors a gacha-style game, reminiscent of titles like Genshin Impact. Players are able to collect new Phantom Thieves and personas, with the gameplay strategy centered on pulling for these characters to enhance their party.
Despite the strong global appeal, the Phantom X's marketing has been primarily focused on a Japanese audience, leaving the international release plans uncertain for now. This regional focus has left many players outside Japan hoping that a worldwide release would follow soon, considering the increase in demand.
What is Persona 5: The Phantom X?
For those unfamiliar with this game, Persona 5: The Phantom X isn't just some carbon copy of the original Persona 5. Rather, it's a spinoff game that offers a fresh storyline with new characters.
The protagonist, Wonder, spearheads his own band of Phantom Thieves, with the gameplay featuring many of the familiar turn-based RPG mechanics that fans have come to love. The game remains faithful to the Persona series' rich storytelling and vivid world-building; this version simply embraces a mobile-friendly gacha structure.
What's Next for International Fans?
The buzz surrounding Persona 5: The Phantom X has been amplified by its feature at the 2024 Tokyo Game Show, where fans got a glimpse of the new Japanese version. At the moment, no official timeline has been set for its global release, but considering the strong (and growing) fan demand, as well as the international success of past Persona games, it wouldn’t be surprising if ATLUS decides to oblige its global fanbase and bring it to a wider audience.
For now, fans outside Japan will just have to watch from the sidelines, eagerly awaiting the next update. Japan-only releases like this often leave global fans in limbo, but with pre-registration for the Steam release open for Japanese players, there’s no shortage of excitement for those who can get their hands on it.
An Attempt From Fans Outside Japan
We can safely speculate that the announcement of this Japan-exclusive steam release will not deter some fans in other regions from attempting to access and play the game using tools like VPNs, while they await a possible global release.
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