Atlus producer Kazushi Wada has once again addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding the inclusion of the beloved female protagonist (FeMC) from Persona 3 Portable in Persona 3 Reload. Dive deeper into Wada's insights to understand why this fan-favorite character might not make it into the remake.
No FeMC for Persona 3 Reload
Adding Kotone/Minako Would be Too Costly and Time-Consuming
In a recent interview highlighted by PC Gamer, producer Kazushi Wada shared that the team at Atlus had indeed contemplated including the female protagonist from Persona 3 Portable, known as Kotone Shiomi/Minako Arisato, in the post-launch DLC for Persona 3 Reload, titled Episode Aigis - The Answer. However, due to significant development and budget constraints, this idea was ultimately shelved.
Persona 3 Reload, a full remake of the iconic 2006 JRPG, was released in February of this year. While it brought back many cherished features and mechanics, the notable absence of Kotone/Minako left many fans disappointed. Despite the vocal support from the community, Wada firmly stated that integrating the FeMC was simply not feasible.
"The more we discussed it, the more unlikely it became," Wada explained. "The development time and costs would not have been manageable." He further elaborated that even considering her addition via a DLC was not possible within the current release window for Persona 3 Reload. "I'm really sorry to all of the fans who were holding out hope, but it is likely never going to happen," he added.
The FeMC from Persona 3 Portable, known for her unique storyline and appeal, had led many fans to anticipate her inclusion in Persona 3 Reload, whether at launch or through post-release content. However, Wada's recent statements have made it clear that this is highly unlikely. In a previous interview with Famitsu, Wada had already hinted at the challenges involved, stating, "For a female protagonist, I am sorry to say that unfortunately, there is no possibility. The development time and cost would be several times longer than Episode Aigis, and the hurdles would be too high."
