Persona 3 Reload: No Female Protagonist from P3P Likely

Discover why Atlus producer Kazushi Wada believes it's highly unlikely for the beloved female protagonist (FeMC) from Persona 3 Portable to make an appearance in Persona 3 Reload.

No FeMC for Persona 3 Reload

Adding Kotone/Minako Would be Too Costly and Time-Consuming

In a recent interview highlighted by PC Gamer, Atlus producer Kazushi Wada shared insights into the decision-making process behind the exclusion of the female protagonist from Persona 3 Portable, known as Kotone Shiomi or Minako Arisato, in Persona 3 Reload. Despite initial considerations during the planning of the post-launch DLC, Episode Aigis - The Answer, the idea was ultimately scrapped due to significant development and budget constraints.

Persona 3 Reload, a full remake of the 2006 JRPG classic released in February, has reintroduced many beloved features and mechanics. However, the absence of Kotone/Minako has left many fans disappointed. Wada emphasized the impracticality of including the character, stating, "The more we discussed it, the more unlikely it became. The development time and costs would not have been manageable." He further noted that even considering her addition via DLC was out of the question within their current timeline, expressing regret to fans who hoped for her inclusion. "I'm really sorry to all of the fans who were holding out hope, but it is likely never going to happen," he concluded.

The fanbase had high expectations for the inclusion of P3P's FeMC, anticipating her availability either at launch or as post-release content. However, Wada's recent statements have dashed those hopes. In a previous interview with Famitsu, Wada had already hinted at the challenges, 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."