In just over a month, Persona 5 will return to the PlayStation 4 to take players' hearts once more, in the updated re-release of Persona 5 Royal. The game, which already launched in Japan last October, is slated for a March 31st release in the west, where it has been confirmed that it will have two scenes edited from its original version. The changes revolve around two minor cutscenes in the game, where two "stereotypical gay men" approach the player characters as a gag, In the game's original western launch, these scenes were met with mixed reception, with certain players finding the content offensive, which has lead to Atlus USA believing that the release of Royal is the perfect time to "update it for the current generation".

In an interview exclusive to IGN, Atlus USA's Communications Manager said that these two scenes would be changed, as to not cast the men in a "negative light".

We actually were able to go through some of the lines that players may not have received as well, look at that feedback, and then [update it] for the current generation.

In a separate exclusive interview with Gamespot, localization manager Yu Namba commented the following, regarding the content in question.

As a localization manager, I really cannot do too much about what has already made it into the game. Our team members felt a little bit of awkwardness about when working on it. And with Royal, we were determined to see if we could do something about it at least localization-wise. On our end, it took a lot of effort consulting not just the production department, but talking with our marketing, and how they would feel about it if we changed how things were in Persona 5 to this new way--what would the public reception be, what the company would think, whether it would be okay if we do make the change.

If you're curious to see the original Persona 5's version of those scenes, they both have been linked below.

​

 

[KingVamp]

I don't get it. They are just changing the lines? So, the scene is still going be about them trying to get away from the two, right?

 

[Silent_Gunner]

As a heterosexual guy myself, those two scenes were...weird. They were only really funny because Ryuji was in a bind, yknow?

This, I don't really mind disappearing. They could've easily have 'aged up' the cast (all of whom are obviously teens, especially Futaba) or not directly referenced sexual harassment/assault (...why did Kamoshida become a generic superhero in Q2?), or covered up some of the more provocative designs (Shadow Sae, a couple of Personas), but they didn't. This is incredibly minor, and I don't mind.

I repeat:



Give 'em an inch, they'll ask for a mile. And knowing how Sony is now, they may not be able to call their SJW policies out for what they are since Sony seems to have the rights to the mainline Persona series if ATLUS knowing that people want Persona 5 on Switch and not delivering is any indication.

 

[pedro702]

i dont see anything bad with it, people nowadays get offended by everything is ridiculous. i bet someday animal protection lovers will stop every animal from being killed in a videogame even, we are reaching a point that any small thing is offensive to homosexuals, or women or this and that its getting quite annoying imo.

 

[Pipistrele]

I don't mind - scenes are short, they were kinda iffy in context, and making a minor rewrite here and there can actually improve quality of the storytelling, so I don't think it's some morbid case of "overzealous censorship".

 

[MarkDarkness]

There are all sorts of people in the world...there are definitely gay people like this out there. Does that mean all gay people are like that? No. And yet, we've reached a point where you are obliged to portray people a certain way "or else". It's petty and signals to bigger problems in society.

 

[raxadian]

Playstation 4 not only has more expensive games but also censors things. I pity the guys who bought one.

Meanwhile not only are the same games on the Switch cheaper, they usually have all the DLC incluyed in the purchasing prize.

 

[Azael_inf]

I thought it was humourous. Oh well.

 

[DJPlace]

if they censor anything else i'm gong kick there asses.

 

[Wuigi]

If they would just sell this DLC at DLC prices, I would gladly buy it day one.
But I also have so many games to play until my memory of Persona 5 has faded enough that a playthrough is more enjoyable and until then the price should have reached 30$ or less anyway.

 

[Xzi]

Is it really censorship if the developer is choosing to make the changes themselves? At that point I think I'd consider it your run-of-the-mill cut content instead.

 

[AkiraKurusu]

Playstation 4 not only has more expensive games but also censors things. I pity the guys who bought one.

Meanwhile not only are the same games on the Switch cheaper, they usually have all the DLC incluyed in the purchasing prize.

Pokemon Sword/Shield. Two $30 DLC, per game, for two already massively-overpriced games.

 

[The Catboy]

That's all well and good but I would still like a gay option!

 

[Viri]

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In just over a month, Persona 5 will return to the PlayStation 4 to take players' hearts once more, in the updated re-release of Persona 5 Royal. The game, which already launched in Japan last October, is slated for a March 31st release in the west, where it has been confirmed that it will have two scenes edited from its original version. The changes revolve around two minor cutscenes in the game, where two "stereotypical gay men" approach the player characters as a gag, In the game's original western launch, these scenes were met with mixed reception, with certain players finding the content offensive, which has lead to Atlus USA believing that the release of Royal is the perfect time to "update it for the current generation".

In an interview exclusive to IGN, Atlus USA's Communications Manager said that these two scenes would be changed, as to not cast the men in a "negative light".



In a separate exclusive interview with Gamespot, localization manager Yu Namba commented the following, regarding the content in question.



If you're curious to see the original Persona 5's version of those scenes, they both have been linked below.

​

That's it? Holy hell, you'd have to be really thin skinned and tight-assed to get offended by that. Talk about pearl clutching. The only thing offensive about those two videos was just how fucking long it took for the player to press the next button.

I can understand people getting pissed at Atlus for changing the game. It's not just the fact that Atlus is changing their game, but Atlus is also kowtowing to a bunch of offended pussies. Give them an inch, and they'll demand you censor the whole game. Yes, it's something minor, for now.

 

[Pipistrele]

There are all sorts of people in the world...there are definitely gay people like this out there. Does that mean all gay people are like that? No. And yet, we've reached a point where you are obliged to portray people a certain way "or else". It's petty and signals to bigger problems in society.

I still don't think it's a solid excuse for offensively stereotypical portrayals of minorities in media, even if I see your point on surface.

1) Sure, there are all sorts of good and bad people regardless of sexuality - but when the game almost entirely consists of ordinary straight folks, and the only two homosexual characters are portrayed as comically violent and one-dimensional predators, and writing pretty much treats that as "haha, look at those pervs", that brings up some nasty implications.
2) Two gay men in P5 aren't written as unpleasant out of "realism", nor are they malevolent in any "realistic" way - they're essentially two walking outdated stereotypes that exist specifically as a joke at expense of already stigmatized minority.

 

[ShadowOne333]

But why?
Who the fuck cares?
It's a videogame ffs.
If you want to convey the characters a living beings, they have to show up signs of an actual living being, and living beings in this world can be homophobic.

Why the fuck are people forcing devs and other people in the entertainment media to fit their sensitive minds?
Fuck those people. It's a way for the devs and storytellers to give a story, and depending on the story, there can be characters like this.

Seems like people just want to watch what they deem within their own restriction.
It's the 21st century people, get your asses out of your head.

It's not their story, it's the devs' story.

 

[dude1]

Is it really censorship if the developer is choosing to make the changes themselves? At that point, I think I'd consider it your run-of-the-mill cut content instead.

yes it is censorship not just cut content.

first off you have the fact that there censoring it in the West, but not in the Japanese release. (because of our sensibilities/getting in front of the resetEra/twitter outrage mobs.)

that shows us that it's not their decision, or else they would censor it in every place, they're being forced/influenced to make the change, but devils advocate let's say they did.

its still immoral for them to change it because Persona 5 Royal is an enhanced/re-release with baked in DLC.
so removing any content for any reason is immoral because you should be able to get the game in its entirety because that's what is being sold as.

if they want to do a complete reimagining ( keeping in mind today's sensibilities of this vocal minority of people)
then they need to do a complete reimagining (new engine new assets etc.)

censorship in gaming is wrong and gross, Just as it is other industries.

you shouldn't agree with "digital book burning" just as you agree with the censor's point of view or not.
that sets a bad precedent.

 

[diggeloid]

The most offensive part about those scenes is that someone is wearing a hoodie at the beach. I haven't played P5 yet, but I hope there's a logical excuse for that.

 

[molcos]

Ofc we need to censor artists because of some offended players. Once again a minuscule portion of the players gets their way and decide how we all should experience the game.

not a big thing on its own, but this sets a precedence on how victim culture will force its ugly agenda over our heads.

 

[SuperDan]

Everything is homaphobic these day .. LGBT world .. PC Correctness should be banned ... As it's nonsense ... Thing is that is a complete marketing tool now... Starbuck rainbow cups .. Ect ect...

 

[Viri]

The most offensive part about those scenes is that someone is wearing a hoodie at the beach. I haven't played P5 yet, but I hope there's a logical excuse for that.

Maybe he just burns up easily, and forgot to buy his sun tan lotion, and a hoodie is all he had that could block out the sun from his face!