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.

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[Deleted User]

I think for many people it's more a matter of principle - it's a solution in search of a problem. I much prefer when artists stand up for their art than when they kowtow to a vocal minority of fickle customers. The X is in the upper right-hand corner, guys. Better yet, don't buy it at all, that saves you the trouble of having to complain later. There's a lot to be said about artistic license - if you treat yourself this seriously, perhaps a lighthearted adventure with a central theme of exaggerated vices, which is ever-present in the entirety of the game and the palaces in particular, is not for you. Something tells me that things like this serve as a mirror, and some people don't like what they see. You don't have to neuter media you don't like - you can simply choose not to consume them.

Because 5 seconds of a generic throwaway gag which adds nothing of value to the game and was probably just thrown in by a random dev during the game's padding phase of development is artistic value. If I made a video game I'd be humiliated that this is where people dig their feet in the sand to defend my perceived creativity.

 

[FGFlann]

What is art, and what gives it value?

 

[Deleted User]

fuckers out there really want a homophobia mode

 

[osaka35]

Why would y'll want this to be kept in, anyway? Take the cringe out makes for a better game, in my opinion.

2004 is definitely the edited version. The specialized version came out in 1997.




It is. There is a 4k scan of the original copy of the 35mm film, called project 4k77 by team negative 1. Not the negatives but its the best we got.

Ahh, it was 2006. They released a limited edition dvd set with the "theatrical" version in celebration of the 40th anniversary, with none of the lucas "enhancements". though they probably kept the "episode IV" and whatnot, but it's closest we're gonna get until disney decides their move. It's the last time the "theatrical" versions were officially released anyway. There's a wiki somewhere about all the different ones out there.

 

[Deleted User]

What is art, and what gives it value?

I went to the city gallery in the weekend with a Korean tourist to look at random bits of literal garbage stuck together in no particular pattern and called art. One exhibit was literally just a pile of aluminum shavings. On the other end of the gallery was a theater showing an African music video singing about sexual compatibility with a girl according to the subtitles. My taxes paid to show tourists a pile of scrap metal and a lecherous African.

 

[FGFlann]

I went to the city gallery in the weekend with a Korean tourist to look at random bits of literal garbage stuck together in no particular pattern and called art. One exhibit was literally just a pile of aluminum shavings. On the other end of the gallery was a theater showing an African music video singing about sexual compatibility with a girl according to the subtitles. My taxes paid to show tourists a pile of scrap metal and a lecherous African.

That's not answering the question though. But think about it. If this is considered art, as anything could be, its value is clearly ascribed by the individual. You see no value in it, but someone else obviously does or it wouldn't be there. Similarly, people see the integrity of a work as paramount, and violating that integrity is egregious to them, no matter how slight it may seem to another.

 

[Deleted User]

That's not answering the question though. But think about it. If this is considered art, as anything could be, its value is clearly ascribed by the individual. You see no value in it, but someone else obviously does or it wouldn't be there. Similarly, people see the integrity of a work as paramount, and violating that integrity is egregious to them, no matter how slight it may seem to another.

I think it's more like they had some garbage lying around and could use a quick buck

 

[FGFlann]

I think it's more like they had some garbage lying around and could use a quick buck

I wouldn't deny the possibility.

 

[Spider_Man]

shouldn't matter if a game has something gay or not.

 

[Randy Steele]

That's pretty gay.
This is censorship regardless of how minuscule it is and I can never agree with any type of censorship. But at least Kotaku is finally happy.

 

[Darksabre72]

The thing is though is there is a line between intentionally controversial content like Doom Eternal's "Remember demon can be an offensive term. Refer to them as mortally challenged" line and what was in that scene in Persona 5 where they unintentionally went in a negative direction. I am fully on board with not censoring a work to a certain point.

when you put it that way i can agree with your statement, just wish that minor stuff (besides dialogue to a degree) wasn't censored. hopefully companies stop censoring games that literally doesn't attack people by culture or gender, jokes that are taken heavily out of context, or just by a few people complaining online about it.

 

[banjo2]

The scenes were in the western releases but not Japan? If not, are they only being removed from the western releases?

 

[ChaosEternal]

Why would y'll want this to be kept in, anyway? Take the cringe out makes for a better game, in my opinion.

Principle. If the original developers concluded that the game is better without it, then I'm all for changing it. It's essentially an evolution of the original design in that case. When localizers make the decision for them, in my eyes it is no longer an evolution, but rather a modification. I would genuinely rather have a game that is untouched by localizers and worse for it than a game that is made better by their modifications. I don't blame them for making changes; I understand the business rationale behind it. I simply disagree with the idea of it on principle. It frustrates me when I'm unable to consume foreign media in the same form* that the domestic audience did.

*(Excluding translations, of course. That's a conundrum that inherently lacks a perfect solution short of learning the language yourself.)

 

[MagnesG]

I think most of you guys are looking at this change from the wrong angle.

Being a gay guy myself I can tell you what if wrong in here: showing gay people like this. I know that everyone knows not every gay looks and behaves like this but somehow, magically, almost every character that appears in movies or video games is portrayed like this. And believe me - most people get and remember exactly that image afterwards and it's extremely difficult to convince them otherwise. I guess it's worth adding that for exactly the same reason I am a big opposer of pride parades - the same thing. And believe me, most of gay people I know are actually against them as well.

So I think the word 'offensive' or 'offended' that was used in the article and is quoted by you guys is a bit too strong - it's all just about not showing this stereotypical image as it really could be harmful.

Cheers

The setting is totally accurate and feasible, can't even discuss about stereotypes when all kinds of tropes and kinks had been practiced in the game. There's even another character that had been in quite a good person spotlight if you really did played the game, did we really to make a checklist of "good representation" to all of the LBGTQ+++ to satisfy all the demands? Make sure to include one for each, and make it totally wholesome according to the "fantasy" standards? Why not act like a normal human being where there are those who are assholes or saints? If you people want to be treated like a normal person, act like one. Don't flap that orientation card asking to be treated like "special".

Also, it's not being gay that was the problem, it was being predators who lustfully latching on virgin boys open in the beach. The joke was damn funny even with the cringe because I've seen and heard enough of those gay parades acting like such in the wild. There are tons of sex criminals obsessing about sex who exploit innocent people just for their satisfaction, exposed. It's not about the sex orientation, it's about the predator behavior like how the game even deals with prostitution.

Imo this the gender study brainwash fiasco all over again, especially in the west and infected European countries.

 

[Clydefrosch]

Jesus, it's a change to entirely pointless scenes to be less japanesey in regards to something we here in the west are less backwards on.

It doesn't hurt your gameplay, it doesn't change the story, it's themes, anything. This doesn't even qualify as censoring to me.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

The joke was damn funny even with the cringe because I've seen and heard enough of those gay parades acting like such in the wild. There are tons of sex criminals obsessing about sex who exploit innocent people just for their satisfaction, exposed. It's not about the sex orientation, it's about the predator behavior like how the game even deals with prostitution.

Imo this the gender study brainwash fiasco all over again, especially in the west and infected European countries.

So you heard about that, did you?
Was it on a YouTube video with a guy wearing a god hates f*gs shirt?

The rest of that post also strongly indicates that if you're the kind of person to be irked by that change, it's definitely right to change it.

 

[Deleted User]

Principle. If the original developers concluded that the game is better without it, then I'm all for changing it.

So basically anything the developer does is right and they know better than the audience.
You should become a movie critic.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Jesus, it's a change to entirely pointless scenes to be less japanesey in regards to something we here in the west are less backwards on.

It doesn't hurt your gameplay, it doesn't change the story, it's themes, anything. This doesn't even qualify as censoring to me.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


So you heard about that, did you?
Was it on a YouTube video with a guy wearing a god hates f*gs shirt?

The rest of that post also strongly indicates that if you're the kind of person to be irked by that change, it's definitely right to change it.

The scene is actually based on stereotypes imported from the west.

 

[MagnesG]

Jesus, it's a change to entirely pointless scenes to be less japanesey in regards to something we here in the west are less backwards on.

It doesn't hurt your gameplay, it doesn't change the story, it's themes, anything. This doesn't even qualify as censoring to me.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


So you heard about that, did you?
Was it on a YouTube video with a guy wearing a god hates f*gs shirt?

The rest of that post also strongly indicates that if you're the kind of person to be irked by that change, it's definitely right to change it.

"So you heard about that, did you"?
Lol fuck off, stranger.

Oh and here comes the pc pussies giving judgements from their asses again.

I'm just here telling people to feel less triggered about something something just because. I can't even give a fuck about your orientation, just like how I don't give a fuck about races or your home country. Would I automatically associate such disgusting acts whenever I see your gay faces? I don't, because you're another person. It was a joke, as lame as what you think it is, doesn't mean it correlates with the whole orientation spectrum. So why feel so entitled and triggered? Well, unless you're one of them predators.

For the record, I just felt silly on how the localizers can come to this conclusion, and felt more ridiculous they actually went down with it! The interviews, the admittance and their pomposity on their SJW's work, the pride showing, it was such a goldmine to read. Still, because I'm not really a fan of the game itself, I don't have such strong reaction for what the localizers had done.

I just felt sorry for devs, kinda tad a bit. "Less backwards" West as per your definition, means less fun, generic, oversensitive atmosphere and quite easy to be suffocate of, full of anxiety issues and suicides thoughts. What a shithole place to live in.

 

[ChaosEternal]

So basically anything the developer does is right and they know better than the audience.
You should become a movie critic.

I essentially said that, as a rule, I desire the product as it was released in its domestic market. That's the product I hope for before its localized. If the original developer decides they want to change it globally in some way, then I accept that in much the same way that I would accept a patch or an update. They changed their mind and that's fine. When a third party makes that change, then I regard it as content intended for the user being removed or altered. Better or worse doesn't even enter the equation for me. Is that some great sin on my part? Am I not allowed to have my own preferences on how media is released?

 

[Dr.Hacknik]

I mean, as someone who's bisexual and trans.... This is just stupid. It was a little funny. Only a little funny though, mostly because it was more painfully cringe than hilarious.

Although it doesn't deserve being removed, it's not like it's offendi- oh wait... Twitter exists.

 

[Clydefrosch]

Lol fuck off

pc pussies
unless you're one of them predators.

I don't have such strong reaction for what the localizers had done.

What a shithole place to live in.

yeah, you don't have such a strong reaction alright.

The funny thing is, when a show or a game inserts gay characters in a positive light, the people that bitch and moan about "sjw" and "pc culture" are also the type to cry pc pussies ruining the game with their sjw agenda.

But when they're shown as child molesters, then god damnit, it's fucking art that deserves protection.

Yeah man, you fuck right off.