Persona 5: The Phantom X Could Be Fertile Ground to Setup…

Persona 5: The Phantom X may have started as a mobile experiment, but it is quickly becoming something far more strategic. Atlus has been expanding the game’s playable cast, slowly incorporating legacy characters and alternate universes into its mechanics and narratives. With Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio both performing well, the company has a clear interest in leveraging its past and future titles to shape where the Persona series goes next.

The recent inclusion of Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Royal characters in The Phantom X suggests that Atlus is willing to draw directly from its major console releases. That opens the door for earlier, less mainstream entries to appear in the mobile game. Characters from Persona 1 and the Persona 2 duology may finally get the exposure they need before their games receive long-anticipated remakes.

Persona 5 The Phantom X Characters Revealed

Every New Character Revealed for Persona 5: The Phantom X So Far

Atlus has a host of characters for players to experience in The Phantom X, and the rollout of personalities to grace the game has begun.

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By Gozie Ibekwe

Persona 5 Phantom X Could Introduce Lost Characters

Unlike Persona 4 Golden, which enjoyed wide availability thanks to PC, Vita, and current console re-releases, Persona 1 and Persona 2 remain relatively obscure. The older titles have been difficult to access in recent years, especially in the West. Most of the characters have never had the kind of spotlight the later casts enjoy. That creates a challenge if Atlus intends to reintroduce these stories to a modern audience.

A practical workaround would be to ease players into the world of Persona 1 and 2 by integrating familiar faces into The Phantom X. Framing these legacy characters as “Phantom Idols” could give newcomers a way to engage with them without having to play the original games first. This tactic mirrors what Fire Emblem Heroes has done to resurface older characters through collectible events and special narratives.

Persona 2 itself is split into two games, Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment, but only the former was officially localized for PSP in English. This makes characters like Tatsuya Suou and Maya Amano especially hard to access for Western players.

If these early game characters join the pool of Phantom Idols, it is a low-risk, high-reward move. Atlus can gauge fan interest, monitor engagement data, and introduce key character traits or signature Personas without needing to fully localize or remake the older titles immediately. Players get to meet them while Atlus gets feedback.

Phantom X’s Crossovers Show a Clear Pattern

The Phantom X’s mobile structure allows Atlus to run events that would be awkward or impractical in a full-scale RPG. Time-limited banners and crossover quests already brought in Persona 3 Reload characters like Aigis and Yukari. Persona 5 Royal staples like Ryuji and Ann have also appeared. There is a growing pattern here. New characters join the cast with minimal narrative friction, and fans continue to summon them enthusiastically.

This model sets a strong precedent for further expansion. If Atlus follows the same approach, then a wave of Phantom Idols based on earlier characters becomes increasingly likely. Even just a handful, such as Tatsuya from Persona 2, Maki Sonomura from Persona 1, or fan-favorite Jun Kurosu, could be introduced through themed events or story quests.

Tatsuya is often noted by fans as one of the most complex protagonists in the series, dealing with guilt and identity in ways that Persona 5 arguably only touches on.

Atlus already has experience remixing older games. The upcoming Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army Remaster is further proof that it is invested in honoring its legacy. Reintroducing old Persona characters via The Phantom X would not only prepare players for a potential Persona 4 remake, but it could also quietly set the stage for future remakes of the oldest entries.

Persona 5 Phantom X Supports the Bigger Plan

Atlus has shown that it rarely makes moves without long-term intent. With Persona 3 Reload being a major success and Metaphor: ReFantazio attracting fresh attention, this is an opportune time to reconnect players with the series’ roots. The Phantom X provides a platform with low risk and strong upside, especially as rumors of a Persona 4 remake continue to build.

If a Persona 4 remake is indeed on the way, then older entries could follow. Testing the waters by introducing early characters in The Phantom X gives Atlus a real-time look at engagement, popularity, and commercial potential. This approach is less about nostalgia and more about strategic pacing. Build familiarity first, and then reintroduce the full games when the time is right.

This pattern already mirrors what happened with Persona 3. Atlus added Persona 3 Portable to modern storefronts, then launched Reload once interest was reestablished. The same kind of buildup could be happening now, especially as mobile content expands to become more narratively and mechanically ambitious.

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