New Persona 3 Reload trailer announces release date and new features; DLC and collector's edition detailed
We finally have a release date for Persona 3 Reload, Atlus' upcoming remake to the beloved Persona 3. According to a new trailer released today, it will debut February 2, 2024, and will have a simultaneous release worldwide. While the trailer only mentions releases on Xbox Series X|S and Windows (via Game Pass), the official website and store listings confirm it will also be coming to Steam, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, on the same day as Microsoft's platforms.
A new developer interview from Famitsu also gives us some new details. Previously, it had been confirmed that Persona 3 Reload wouldn't feature the "The Answer" epilogue introduced in Persona 3 FES, but would include some elements from that game. It has been confirmed that Aigis' Social Link will be included, as well as the ability to take Koromaru on walks to get new items or gain Social Link points with other members of your party. Koromaru will also have a voice actor, after previous games used pre-existing dog noises in a sound library. He will be voiced by Shinya Takahashi, who voiced him in the theatrical anime films from 2014-2016. Finally, it is also confirmed that Shinjiro, Ken and Koromaru, who were missing Social Links in the original release, will be getting "side stories" that flesh out their characters. These side stories will pull from other works related to Persona 3, including the films, and presumably the Social Links these characters were given in Persona 3 Portable as well.
A few new details have been spotted in the trailer as well. Fusion spells make their first appearance in the series since the original Persona 3, and the short, surveillance footage cutscenes from the S.E.E.S. dorm will also be returning. Some features from Persona 5 will also be here, with X user shplorgilur noticed a possible tease of the Baton Pass ability, and character screens after ending a fight with an All-Out Attack are also in the trailer.
A second, shorter trailer was also released that shows the new battle theme, "It's Going Down Now." This song will play when the party successfully ambushes an enemy, and a reworked version of the original battle theme, "Mass Destruction," will play during other fights.
Store listings and pre-orders have also gone live for various platforms, which reveal the price, pre-order bonuses and day 1 DLC. The standard edition of the game will cost $69.99 USD. The Digital Deluxe version, which includes a digital artbook and digital soundtrack, will cost $79.99 USD. Lastly, the Digital Premium version, which comes with everything the digital deluxe version has plus all of the day 1 DLC, is $99.99 USD. Pre-ordering any of these version will also get players access to the Persona 4 Golden BGM Set DLC, which will also be available separately or as part of the Digital Premium edition.
Similarly to Persona 5, the DLC features new costumes, Personas and background music from previous entries. While the official announcements from Atlus do not tell us exactly what DLC will be available, these listings are already live on the Xbox Marketplace. They are:
Includes the original Personas for the entire main party of Persona 5 Royal, including Akechi and Yoshizawa
Includes the ultimate Personas for the entire main party of Persona 5 Royal, including Akechi and Yoshizawa
Includes only three Personas: Izanagi, Magatsu-Izanagi, and Kaguya
Includes Last Surprise, Take Over, Rivers in the Desert, Jaldabaoth, Throw Away Your Mask, and Victory
Includes Reach Out to the Truth, Time to Make History, I'll Face Myself, A New World Fool, The Fog, Results
The official website also shows off the Aigis collector's edition, which comes with the game, a physical soundtrack and artbook, a collectable box, Aigis figurine, and a pass for all the DLC. For some reason, it also entices you to pre-order by including the Persona 4 BGM Set, which is included in the DLC voucher anyway.
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