Persona 5: The Phantom X Global Launch on the Horizon?
SEGA's recent financial report hints at a potential global release for Persona 5: The Phantom X (P5X). The report indicates strong initial sales in its current markets and expresses that global expansion is under active consideration.
Currently in Open Beta, Limited Regions
Licensed by Atlus, P5X initially launched in a soft-launch open beta in 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 its subsidiary, Black Wings Game Studio (China).
Players control a new protagonist, "Wonder," a high school student by day and Phantom Thief by night, fighting societal injustices alongside familiar faces and new allies. 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 series' signature turn-based combat, social links, and dungeon crawling, but integrates a gacha system for character acquisition.
New Roguelike Mode: Heart Rail
A recent gameplay showcase by popular Persona content creator Faz highlights the new "Heart Rail" roguelike mode. This mode shares similarities with Honkai: Star Rail's Simulated Universe, offering power-up choices, varied maps, and rewarding stage completion.
SEGA's Strong Performance and Future Plans
SEGA reported solid sales for its "Full Game" category, including titles like Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Persona 3 Reload, and Football Manager 2024, all achieving significant sales milestones.
The company announced restructuring, creating a new "Gaming Business" segment encompassing online gaming, slot machine development, and integrated resort operations. SEGA projects increased sales and profits for FY2025, with the Full Game segment aiming for 93 billion Yen (approximately 597 billion USD) in revenue. A new Sonic title is also anticipated for next year.
