Ever since the release ofPersona 3 Reloadin early 2024, there has been much discussion about the prospect of aPersona 4remake. The fourth numbered entry in thePersonaseries may not be as dated as the originalPersona 3, but it still isn’t on par with modernPersonagames in some respects.Persona 4’s 3D character models and overall UI design pale in comparison toPersona 5and the aforementionedPersona 3 Reload. Plus, its gameplay could be improved with the addition of some quality-of-life features and upgraded dungeons.
Several insiders have alleged that aPersona 4remake is indeed in development, and even though Atlus hasn’t officially announced anything yet, speculation surrounding this title has started to heat up again. Recently, Shihoko Hirata, the singer who provided the vocals for many of the songs inPersona 4, posted on her Instagram account that she had been hired to work on an unannounced game at a Tokyo-based recording facility known as MIT Studio. The facility in question has exclusively been used by Sega and Atlus in recent years. Because of this, many believe that Hirata is working onan unannouncedPersona 4remake. This may sound absurd to some, but there may be some truth in these rumors, especially considering that aPersona 4remake could be released sooner than one might think.
A Persona 4 Remake Could Be Released in a Shorter Timeframe than Persona 3 Reload
If aPersona 4remake does exist, it will probably followthe same template thatPersona 3 Reloadused. In other words, the original game will likely be remade from the ground up in Unreal Engine 4, and the voice actors and the soundtrack will be replaced with updated versions. Additionally, dungeons may be slightly reworked, and combat may be tweaked to make it more similar toPersona 5. ChangingPersona 4this much would, no doubt, require a lot of time and effort. However, a potential remake of the game may not take as long to develop asPersona 3 Reloaddid.
Even though they have entirely separate casts of characters,thePersonagamesusually feature similar combat mechanics, enemies, and attacks;Persona 3and4are no exception in this regard. Many of the enemies, or shadows, inPersona 3Reloadare also present inPersona 4. The Angry Tables, Magic Hands, Gracious Cupids, Battle Wheels, and Immoral Snakes, for instance, all make an appearance in both games. Even some of the sound effects for the shadows in the originalPersona 3were outright reused inPersona 4.
Like most AAA titles these days,Persona 3 Reloadtook more than 4 years to develop. Although Atlus didn’t have to write a new script for this game, it still had to rebuild the originalPersona 3from scratch using a new engine, which was likely time-consuming. Since the foundation for a current-genPersonaremake has already been established, though, perhaps aPersona 4remake would take one or two years less to create. Atlus can do whatthe fellow Sega subsidiary, RGG Studio, does with its ownYakuzaseries by reusing assets when developing new games.
The Rumored Persona 4 Remake Could Be Released Sooner than Initially Expected
Some may frown upon the idea of reusing assets instead of making new ones, but in thePersona 4remake’s case, this would make a lot of sense. A player’s experience would not be dramatically worsened ifPersona 3 Reloadand aPersona 4remakehad some of the same character animations and 3D models, and because of that, Atlus may be more inclined to do this. Taking this into account, it seems quite plausible that the rumors about Shihoko Hirata and thePersona 4remake are true. Maybe this rumoredPersonagame is farther along in development than initially expected and, if so, it may come out as early as 2027 or 2028.
Persona 4
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The world-renowned Persona 4 Golden promises unforgettable adventures, meaningful bonds, and heartwarming experiences shared together with friends.They say your soulmate will appear if you stare into a television set on a rainy night…This strange rumor slowly spreads through the rural town of Inaba, the protagonist’s new home, just as a chain of mysterious murders begin. As the protagonist and his teammates chase after the truth, they find themselves opening the door to another world.Explore otherworldly dungeons, take down monstrous Shadows, and confront the darker sides of one’s self as you inch closer to the truth behind the serial murder cases.Venture around the town of Inaba, partake in an eventful school year, meet kindred spirits, and forge invaluable bonds.New quality of life features including improved graphics and smoothness, difficulty selection and quick save functionality.
