Exciting news for fans of the Persona series: SEGA is actively considering a global release for Persona 5: The Phantom X (P5X). This development comes directly from SEGA's latest financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 2024, where the company highlighted P5X's initial performance and potential for expansion.
Is Persona 5: The Phantom X Coming to America?
SEGA's financial report explicitly mentions that Persona 5: The Phantom X is "starting off as expected" in terms of sales and that "future expansion in Japan and globally is under consideration." This is a clear signal that fans around the world might soon get to experience this gacha spinoff of the beloved Persona 5 series.
Currently in Open Beta for Select Regions Only
Persona 5: The Phantom X initially launched in a soft release for mobile and PC in China on April 12, 2024, with subsequent expansions to Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and Taiwan on April 18. The game, currently in its open beta phase, is published by South Korea’s Perfect World Games and developed by their subsidiary, Black Wings Game Studio in China.
In P5X, players assume the role of a silent protagonist named "Wonder," who balances life as a high school student by day and a Persona-wielding "Phantom Thief" by night. The mission is to combat the injustices stemming from societal corruption and greed, a theme consistent with the Persona series.
The protagonist in P5X is equipped with a new Persona called Janosik, inspired by Slovakian literature and embodying the "Robin Hood" archetype. Joining Wonder are familiar faces like Joker from the original Persona 5 series, alongside a new character, YUI.
While retaining the turn-based combat, social simulation, and dungeon crawling elements of the mainline Persona games, P5X introduces a gacha system for character acquisition, adding a fresh twist to the gameplay.
New Roguelike Gamemode - Heart Rail
Prominent Persona content creator, Faz, has showcased gameplay of the new Heart Rail update, a roguelike game mode exclusive to the China release of *Persona 5: The Phantom X*. This mode, reminiscent of Honkai Star Rail's Simulated Universe, involves selecting power-ups, exploring various maps, and earning rewards upon stage completion.SEGA Steady Sales in Full Game Category
In addition to the news on P5X, SEGA reported robust sales in its ‘Full Game’ category. Notable titles include Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which sold 1 million units globally within its first week of release on January 26, and Persona 3 Reload, which also reached 1 million units in its debut week in February, marking the fastest sales ever for an Atlus title. Football Manager 2024 has also seen significant success, attracting up to 9 million players since its launch in November of the previous year.
SEGA’s FY25 Forecast and Mid-Term Changes
Looking ahead, SEGA plans significant changes to its business structure, establishing a new ‘Gaming Business’ segment. This segment will focus on expanding into the online gaming market, particularly in North America, as a key pillar of their business model. Alongside online gaming, this new segment will encompass the development, manufacturing, and sale of slot machines by SEGA SAMMY CREATION, and the operation of integrated resort facilities by PARADISE SEGASAMMY.
For FY2025, SEGA forecasts an increase in both sales and profits year-on-year. The Full Game segment is projected to reach 93 billion Yen (approximately 597 million USD), a 5.4% increase from the 88.1 billion Yen reported in the FY2024/3 full year results. Additionally, SEGA anticipates the release of a new title in the Sonic series, one of their flagship IPs, for the next year.
