Persona 5: The Phantom X Global Release on the Horizon?
SEGA is Considering a Global Launch for Persona 5: The Phantom X
Will Persona 5: The Phantom X Arrive in the West?
SEGA's latest financial report (fiscal year ending March 2024) reveals that Persona 5: The Phantom X (P5X), the popular gacha spin-off, is under consideration for both a wider Japanese release and a global launch. The report indicates that the game's initial performance is meeting expectations, paving the way for potential expansion.
Currently in Open Beta, Limited Regions
Licensed by Atlus, Persona 5: The Phantom X initially soft-launched in China on April 12, 2024, followed by Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and Taiwan on April 18. Published by Perfect World Games (South Korea) and developed by Black Wings Game Studio (China), the game is currently in open beta.
Players step into the shoes of "Wonder," a high school student by day and a Persona-wielding Phantom Thief by night. Joining Joker and a new character, YUI, Wonder fights to correct societal injustices.
Wonder's initial Persona is Janosik, inspired by Slovakian folklore and embodying a Robin Hood-esque persona. The game retains the core elements of the Persona series—turn-based combat, social simulation, and dungeon crawling—but integrates a gacha system for character acquisition.
New Roguelike Game Mode: Heart Rail
Popular *Persona* content creator Faz showcased the new Heart Rail roguelike game mode in his recent gameplay video. This mode, reminiscent of *Honkai: Star Rail*'s Simulated Universe, features power-up selection, map exploration, and rewarding stage completion.Strong Sales for SEGA's Full Game Category
SEGA also reported solid sales for new titles from its Japanese studios, as well as continued strong performance from previously released games. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth reached 1 million units sold globally in its first week (January 26th), while Persona 3 Reload achieved the same milestone in its first week (February), setting a new record for Atlus. Football Manager 2024 boasted 9 million players since its November launch.
SEGA's FY25 Forecast and Restructure
SEGA announced a restructuring, creating a new "Gaming Business" segment. This segment will focus on expanding online gaming, aiming to establish a strong presence in North America as a third pillar of their business model. Beyond online gaming, the segment will encompass SEGA SAMMY CREATION's slot machine business and PARADISE SEGASAMMY's integrated resort operations.
For FY2025, SEGA projects increased sales and profits. The Full Game segment anticipates 93 billion Yen (approximately $597 million USD) in revenue—a 5.4% increase from FY2024. A new Sonic title is also slated for release next year.
