Perfect World Games and Black Wings Game Studio have officially revealed Persona 5: The Phantom X for iOS and Android, after an April 2021 teaser announcement. There was no mention of a release date, but the game would be free-to-play with item-based in-app payments. Currently, only China has a definite release date.
Persona 5: The Phantom X announced for iOS, Android
The official website is already accepting sign-ups for the “Infiltration Test” playtest, and the playtest itself will begin on March 29 in China. Although the statement does not specifically mention a PC version, the playtest will be conducted on PC and Android devices.
Persona 5: The Phantom X is an entirely new game set in the Persona 5 universe. It follows a unique plot with a new band of Phantom Thieves set in Tokyo. The original game’s style and gameplay have been kept, while the graphics have been updated and the user experience and presentation have been tailored for smartphone users.
SEGA and ATLUS’ P-Studio are directing development and supplying resources, whilst Perfect World Games and Black Wings Game Studio are developing, distributing, and operating the game. Although it is based on the Persona 5 universe, it is being created as a new game suited to local user tastes, trends, and gameplay settings. The protagonist and his Persona were designed by Shigenori Soejima of the ATLUS art team.
The game focuses on the concept of “desire” and depicts the narrative of students who awaken to their “Personas” in an era of “low desire” and face challenges together. These seemingly unconnected things—a mystery old guy with a long nose, a bizarre underwater room, an owl that can understand human language, and a parallel universe—are connected in some way.
The player will assume the role of a student, attending courses throughout the day and engaging in activities such as playing baseball or watching movies with friends during free time. After school, they can penetrate the other world, which appears in the shape of palaces with various themes, and participate in high-octane conflicts with their Personas.