Persona 5: The Phantom X Global Launch in the Works?
Sega's latest financial report hints at a potential global release for Persona 5: The Phantom X (P5X). The report indicates that the game's performance in its initial launch regions is meeting expectations, and global expansion is currently under consideration.
Currently in Open Beta, Limited Regions
Licensed by Atlus, Persona 5: The Phantom X initially launched in a soft-launch open beta for China (April 12, 2024), followed by Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and Taiwan (April 18, 2024). Perfect World Games (South Korea) publishes the title, developed by Black Wings Game Studio (China).
Players control a new silent protagonist, "Wonder," a high school student by day and a Persona-wielding Phantom Thief by night, fighting societal injustices. Wonder's initial Persona is Janosik, and the team includes Joker (from the main Persona 5 series) and a new character, YUI.
The game retains the turn-based combat, social sim, and dungeon crawling elements of the Persona series, adding a gacha system for character acquisition.
New Roguelike Mode: Heart Rail
A new roguelike game mode, "Heart Rail," has been introduced, resembling the Simulated Universe system in Honkai: Star Rail. This mode offers power-ups, varied maps, and stage completion rewards.
Sega's Strong Performance and Future Plans
Sega reported strong sales for several titles, including Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Persona 3 Reload, and Football Manager 2024. The company is restructuring its business, creating a new "Gaming Business" segment focusing on online gaming, which it aims to establish as a key revenue stream in North America. Sega also projects increased sales and profits for FY2025 and anticipates a new Sonic game release next year.
