Persona 5: The Phantom X Holds a Unique Edge Over the Main Series

Persona 5: The Phantom X is shaking up the Persona franchise in several ways. Unlike previous installments, this game isn’t being developed directly by Atlus. While the Japanese company has partnered with other studios like Arc System Works and Omega Force on past titles, this spin-off is primarily under the control of Chinese developer Black Wings Game Studio, with Atlus stepping in only as a supervisor. Additionally, Persona 5: The Phantom X is breaking tradition by not launching in Japan initially; instead, it's currently available in China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Most notably, this game is the franchise's first foray into a live service business model.

As a free-to-play game-as-a-service (GAAS) title, Persona 5: The Phantom X already stands apart from the mainline Persona games, but it has the potential to further distinguish itself by embracing crossovers. This spin-off’s gacha elements offer a significant opportunity for cross-IP collaborations, something the mainline titles have not explored to the same extent. While the mobile game format might not appeal to every Persona fan, it could attract a broader audience due to its availability on widely-used platforms. Moreover, crossovers with major franchises have proven to be highly successful in similar gacha games.

Crossovers Dominate Mobile and Live Service Games

In recent years, crossovers have become a hallmark of mobile and live service games like Fortnite, Call of Duty Mobile, Dead by Daylight, Among Us, and Arknights. These collaborations often manifest as skins, paid cosmetics, or even new playable characters. Regardless of their form, these crossovers can generate substantial revenue through microtransactions, depending on the popularity of the IP involved.

Mainline Persona Games and Their Limited Crossovers

In contrast, single-player console games like the mainline Persona titles rarely feature cross-IP collaborations because they don’t lend themselves as easily to monetization. Publishers might offer paid crossover skins, but since AAA single-player games already come with a hefty price tag of $60-70, players are less inclined to spend more on microtransactions. This is where Persona 5: The Phantom X has a significant advantage. As a free-to-play gacha game that’s already set up for monetization through paid skins, P5X has greater potential for crossovers than any other game in the Persona series.

Potential Collaborations for Persona 5: The Phantom X

Atlus has already announced that Persona 5: The Phantom X will feature collaborations with other Persona games, including Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Reload. However, these in-franchise crossovers are nothing new, as previous Persona games have also featured paid cosmetics based on other titles in the series. The real potential for P5X lies in collaborations with unrelated franchises, especially those under Sega’s umbrella. Characters from Bayonetta, Sonic, Like a Dragon, and even Space Channel 5 would make exciting additions to Persona 5: The Phantom X. Atlus could also explore collaborations with third-party franchises like Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and Monster Hunter.

When Persona 5: The Phantom X eventually launches in the West, it has the potential to become a major success, possibly even one of the most profitable games in the Persona series. If Sega and Atlus capitalize on strategic collaborations, P5X could not only introduce the Persona franchise to a wider, more casual gaming audience but also significantly boost the series’ overall popularity.