When players think of the Persona series, they think of one of the most popular JRPGs of all time. Persona has always been praised for its unique concept, combined with fully fleshed-out characters, incredible music, and stylish art style, and it has been described as being an anime, manga, and JRPG in one complete package.
For the most part, the Persona series has made its mark on PlayStation consoles, with the first game releasing for the original PlayStation console in 1996. Since then JRPGs have exploded in the west, and the Persona series has received several more mainline installments with numerous spin-offs. Slowly, Persona has been branching out to more platforms, including PC and Nintendo Switch, but now Persona could be coming to mobile devices with a mysterious new title, Code Name: X.
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The official information about Code Name: X confirms that it is the first mobile game for a "famous Japanese console game series," but no one has confirmed yet which series that is. Game analyst Daniel Ahmad tweeted that Code Name: X was confirmed to be based on the Persona series, however. He's not a developer, but he was one of the first to share the announcement trailer. At this point, it is technically still a rumor because it hasn't been officially confirmed. However, there don't seem to be any other good options or leads.
With only one short reveal trailer, it's hard to say what the gameplay will look like for Code Name: X, but players can be assured that the game will be beautiful. The mobile title is using new technology to recreate a beautiful version of Shibuya and claims that it will improve upon graphics used in the main console series. For Chinese gamers, it's definitely one to keep an eye on, and with any luck, Code Name: X will eventually expand its reach to the rest of the world.
Code Name: X is officially a JRPG for mobile devices, published by Perfect World Entertainment. So far, it looks like it will only be available for download in China, and the story is unclear. The reveal trailer teases a hacking mechanic headed by a female character, and shows a young man traversing the iconic Shibuya square.
Both of these characters are presumed to be completely new, so although he may appear similar, the young man in the trailer isn't Persona 5's Joker, even if the game is based on Persona. Their ages don't line up, with Joker being 16 in Persona 5 and this new character being 15. However, according to the new character's bio, they do seem to have a lot in common. The new character is an ordinary high school student with a dark past, not unlike Persona 5's Joker. The character bio indicates that the mysterious young man will choose a path of innovation whereas those around him must choose between order and chaos.
There is a little more information about the female character in Code Name: X. Her name is Rukawa Yuki, and she's older than the protagonist by two years. There's nothing that specifically connects her to Persona, but her character bio describes her as someone with a strong sense of justice, and a background as a legal practitioner for the Jidao family. Yuki will definitely be an ally of the protagonist, but her specific role hasn't been completely revealed yet.
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Code Name: X is almost definitely related to Persona. There's a lot of evidence surrounding Code Name: X that points towards Persona, even though it hasn't been confirmed by an official announcement. Perhaps Perfect World Entertainment has decided it doesn't need to make a huge announcement because Code Name: X's inspiration seems clear.
The music and the art style are instantly reminiscent of the Persona series, and most are quite convinced that Persona is the "famous Japanese console game series" referenced. To narrow it down even further, Code Name: X seems like it will take place in the Persona 5 universe. Fans have pointed out Iwai's model gun shop, Airsoft, being visible in Code Name: X's trailer. That small detail alone all but confirms that Code Name: X is set in Persona 5's version of Tokyo.
Other fans have found that some of the file names associated with Code Name: X on the official website reference "P5." If Code Name: X somehow wasn't related to Persona 5, there would be some concerning issues with the many references and similarities. It's pretty safe to assume that Persona is the console series inspiring the mobile game. There's no real alternative argument, and the more that comes out about Code Name: X, the clearer it becomes. Even the verbiage used in the two character bios is reminiscent of something from the Persona series, and the female character appears to already have a Metaverse look.
The only thing that stands out as being a little strange is the omission of "Persona" from Code Name: X's title. Most, if not all, Persona games have the series title before the secondary title, so that could be why some are reluctant to say with 100% certainty that Code Name: X is directly related to Persona. It's also not clear how and when Code Name: X would fit into the Persona 5 universe and timeline, so there's still a lot to be revealed about this intriguing title.
The Persona 5 base game is an extremely popular JRPG exclusive to PlayStation 4 consoles (although there are rumors of a Persona 5 Xbox port), and the title has gotten its fair share of spin-offs. Persona 5 was released in 2016 and won Best RPG at the 2017 Game Awards. From there, its popularity has only grown.
Persona 5 was followed by Persona 5 Royal in 2019, an enhanced re-release of the original game, as well as a sequel called Persona 5 Strikers in 2020. Persona 5 Dancing in Starlight is a rhythmic game that released in 2018, and the list goes on from there. In comparison to existing spin-off titles, it's actually strange that Persona 5 doesn't have a mobile game yet.
2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the Persona series, so there should be some other celebratory announcements later this year, but it's the perfect time to release a related mobile game. The Persona series has always been known for its distinct style and level of polish, and the traditional turn-based combat lends itself well to mobile devices. It's too soon to say whether or not the game will be a success, but video games in general are starting to move more towards having mobile spin-offs/options.
Mobile games actually make up a majority of the gaming industry, and smartphones are much more common than in-home consoles or custom-built PCs. While mobile games are usually for a more casual audience, that is changing and the importance of mobile games can't be underestimated. For something like Persona, a mobile game works into the existing format seamlessly, and expands the franchise's reach to a larger audience. The timing and the rationale are all there, and while fans aren't sure yet how Code Name: X fits into Persona just yet, it will definitely have a role to play in the franchise's future.
Code Name: X is confirmed to release on mobile devices in China.