Persona 6 is already one of the most anticipated games of the new console generation. While there's been no official announcement about a follow-up on the widely successful Persona 5, it's almost undoubtedly in the works. There will be likely be huge pressure for the game to be successful, but Persona 6 will be in a unique position to capture and define the spirit of JRPGs on the new consoles, the way that Skyrim did for Western RPGs in the last cycle.
While wildly disparate games, Persona and Skyrim likely both grace the collections of many gamers across the world. The two offer very different experiences, but both captured attention for the sheer amount of detail given to each game. With so much excitement already surrounding the next game, Persona 6 will need to take the JRPG renaissance that Persona 5 started and build on that.
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Skyrim has had one of the longest-running steady player bases in history. The game had huge impacts on how game's that followed it were designed, to the point where it was used almost as an adjective describing titles like Breath of the Wild. Persona 5 has already done something similar with JRPGs; it raised the bar on presentation and mechanics for the genre. As much as Persona 5 will clearly impact Persona 6, the new game will likely be launching near the beginning of this new console cycle the same way that Skyrim did. The similar timing and excitement levels around Persona 6 put it in a unique opportunity to become the staple JRPG for the next generation.
It goes without saying that Persona 6 is already walking a tight rope, and the breakout success of Persona 5 means that fans will be expecting the moon of the sequel. The framework that has been laid out already is a good starting point. Part of what made Skyrim so successful was the sheer amount of content in the game, and the amount of time that players could dedicate to exploring every cave, town, and ancient ruin the game had to offer. An expansive series of crafting options and side content to explore meant that the grind was always rewarded even hundreds of hours into play.
Persona 5 already features some of these important elements, again part of its huge success, but Persona 6 still has places to build on to create a game world to hold player's attention for a decade. Persona 5 is already a game that players can easily sink several hundred hours into, with relationships to develop and new Personas to discover by exploration of fusion. Expanding on an already impressive system would go a long way in ensuring its success.
While many of the long-running trends of the Persona series are likely to continue in the next installment, Atlus should not be afraid to make some deviations to the formula in order to hook a wider audience. That's not to advocate for wildly leaving behind the JRPG traditions, they are a big part of what's made Persona 5 so successful. However, innovating on what worked well and improving the things that could have been better implemented will be what could make Persona 6 a true masterpiece.
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Persona 5 helped lead the pack of JRPGs that have become more successful than what was initially a a niche genre in games. Alongside it, games like Dragon Quest 11 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake also showed that games heavily steeped in traditional JRPG archetypes can be very successful. Persona 6 should learn from other JRPGs while still staying true to its own roots. Adapting elements from other modern Western RPGs is part of what made Skyrim successful.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake showed that a classic turn-based combat system can be expertly adapted to a more action-focused style without compromising the strategy of the original. It's worth noting that a move that drastic is highly unlikely for Persona, but speaks to the kinds of adaptations to take note of for Atlus after the current success of Persona 5 Strikers.
Just how different Persona 6 will be is something likely on many fans' minds as they wait for an official announcement. Treading this line will be pivotal for Persona 6. Skyrim took some large steps away from the Elder Scrolls titles that came before it, but it paid off in critical and commercial success. As with any franchise, Atlus won't be able to keep everyone happy. The same was true of Skyrim, as some veteran fans of Elder Scrolls decried the game as having dumbed down the mechanics. While pleasing long-time fans should certainly be a priority, charting a new course forward for Persona will be critical to success in the new generation of games.
After the success of Persona 5, development of the sequel likely shouldn't take as long compared to the decade it took for Persona 5. While Atlus is almost assuredly focused on maintaining the same level of polish for which Persona 5 is so highly regarded, the developers also likely know that getting the game released earlier in the console cycle will prove beneficial. Atlus has also likely paid attention to some of the backlash recent Western RPGs received for releasing "too early," so this balancing act of expediency and quality will be a critical factor in Persona 6's success. Skyrim is historically known for its enormous slew of bugs, despite its commercial success.
The similarities between Skyrim and Persona seem tertiary at first glance. However, Persona 6 will likely be finding itself in a very similar window Skyrim did when it first released. Properly building on what the series has already achieved, while also innovating within its own formula will be crucial. Learning from what its contemporaries have done well, while also embracing its own accomplishments, Persona 6 could be a definitive entry in the JRPG genre, similar to what Skyrim became for western RPGs in the previous console cycle. Until fans have a better idea of what to expect from Persona in the future, there's not much for them to do but enjoy Persona 5 and speculate.
Persona 6 is rumored to be in development.