Exciting news for fans of the *Persona* series: SEGA is seriously considering a global release for *Persona 5: The Phantom X (P5X)*, as highlighted in their latest financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 2024. The report indicates that P5X is performing well in its current markets and SEGA is eyeing an expansion into Japan and other global regions.
Is Persona 5: The Phantom X Coming to America?
Yes, there's a good chance! SEGA's financial report explicitly mentions that they are considering a "future expansion in Japan and global" for P5X. This follows the game's soft launch on mobile and PC in China on April 12, 2024, with subsequent releases in Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and Taiwan on April 18. Currently, the game is in its open beta phase, managed by South Korea’s Perfect World Games and developed by the Chinese studio Black Wings Game Studio.
In *Persona 5: The Phantom X*, players step into the shoes of a new silent protagonist named "Wonder," a high school student by day and a "Phantom Thief" by night. This character is joined by the iconic Joker from the original *Persona 5* series, along with a new character, YUI. Wonder starts with a new Persona called Janosik, inspired by Slovakian literature and embodying the "Robin Hood" archetype.
The gameplay retains the beloved turn-based combat, social simulation, and dungeon crawling elements of the *Persona* series, but introduces a gacha system for acquiring new characters. A new roguelike game mode called "Heart Rail" has also been added, drawing inspiration from *Honkai Star Rail's* Simulated Universe. This mode allows players to choose power-ups, explore different maps, and earn rewards.
SEGA Steady Sales in Full Game Category
SEGA's financial report also highlighted steady sales in their 'Full Game' category. Notable successes include *Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth*, which sold 1 million units globally in its first week after launching on January 26, 2024, and *Persona 3 Reload*, which achieved the same milestone in its first week after launching in February, marking the fastest sales ever for an Atlus title. *Football Manager 2024* has also seen impressive numbers, reaching 9 million players since its November 2023 launch.
SEGA’s FY25 Forecast and Mid-Term Changes
Looking ahead, SEGA plans to restructure its business into a new 'Gaming Business' segment, with a strong focus on online gaming. They aim to enter the North American online gaming market, positioning it as the third pillar of their business model. This segment will also encompass the development, manufacturing, and sale of slot machines by SEGA SAMMY CREATION, and the operation of integrated resort facilities by PARADISE SEGASAMMY.
For fiscal year 2025, SEGA forecasts a 5.4% increase in sales and profits year-on-year, expecting the Full Game segment to reach 93 billion Yen (approximately 597 million USD). They also plan to release a new title in the Sonic series, one of their flagship IPs, next year.
