Following a survey launched a few days ago by Atlus USA, the Japanese arm of the company released its own today. It’s quite different, in some areas more detailed, which is not unexpected considering that it takes care of development while the American branch handles localization.
The questionnaire is similar to another published last year, but there are some relevant differences.
Many among the massive string of questions are a pretty generic look into your habits, but things get mildly interesting when images of Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, Shin Megami Tensei V, Catherine: Full Body, Persona 5, and Etrian Odyssey Nexus are shown.
Among the related questions, the developer asks if you’d like to play them on home consoles on a big screen, on portable consoles, or on smartphones.
Definitely more intriguing is a group of questions towards the end of the survey.
First of all, we’re asked what kind of title from the Persona series we’d like to play and for which platforms among PS4, PlayStation VR, Switch, PC, mobile, or “other”.
The options are a Persona action RPG, a Persona board game, a Persona action adventure, a Persona 5 fighting game, a completely new “Persona 6,” a Persona online RPG, a Persona simulation RPG (in Japan this definition is used to indicate turn-based strategy RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics) or a visual novel from the series.
Another question asks about full remakes, again the possible platforms are Ps4, PlayStation VR, Switch, PC, smartphones, or “other”.
Possible remakes listed are the Persona series from the original Revelations: Persona to 5, Shin Megami Tensei from Nocturne (3) to IV: Apocalypse, Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga, Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers, the Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha series, the numbered Etrian Odyssey games, the Persona Q series, Catherine: Full Body, and the Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor series.
The following quiz asks whether you’d like Atlus to focus on completely new games, large-scale numbered games of established series like Shin Megami Tensei V, spin-off games from established franchises like Persona Dancing, remakes of past games, ports or remasters of past games, or aggressive collaborations with the content from other companies.
We’re also asked if we’d like a completely new IP by the Shin Megami Tensei team, a completely new Vanillaware IP, a completely new IP by Studio Zero, a completely new IP by the Etrian Odyssey team, or one from the Persona team.
Last, but not least, we’re asked once more if we’d like to play the next numbered Persona, Etrian Odyssey, and Shin Megami Tensei games on PS4, PlayStation VR, Switch, PC, Smartphones, or “other.”
Interestingly, compared to last year, options for PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS have disappeared. I’d say this is a pretty clear hint that Atlus is ready to leave the aging portables from Sony and Nintendo behind.
As usual, we should stress that this survey (like all surveys) should not be taken as the specific intent to release any of the games listed. It’s normally just a way for the developer to explore its customers’ taste and desires, and for you to let them know what you would like to see, but we shouldn’t extrapolate any promise or announcement from it.
