The loyal fan base of the Persona series has been excited about a new adventure for a long time. Finally, the long awaited moment has come and Persona 5: The Phantom, has been listed on the popular gaming platform Steam. However, this joy has been overshadowed by the fact that the game currently only supports Simplified Chinese and Japanese. While the development team has hinted that English language support may be added in the future, this has caused great disappointment among international Persona fans. Originally developed for mobile platforms, Persona 5: The PhantomThe fact that it will be released for PC and consoles also reduces this disappointment a little. The fact that the game has reached a significant stage of development, such as 90%, also increases hopes for its release.
A Major Shortcoming for International Fans: Uncertainty About English Language Support
Persona 5: The Phantom, is an independent production set in the beloved Persona 5 universe, offering a brand new storyline and intriguing new characters. This time, players will try to unravel the mysterious events that have become the series' trademark as a new member of the Phantom Thieves team. The game is being developed with the aim of bringing the Persona series' distinctive dark atmosphere, immersive social simulation mechanics and stylized presentation to both mobile devices and PC platforms.
However, the lack of language support other than Simplified Chinese and Japanese at launch poses a significant barrier to access for international players. The development team’s statement that English language support could be added to the game in a future update as the game nears the end of development is a glimmer of hope, especially for the large English-speaking player base that follows the series closely, but the lack of a definitive timetable remains uncertain.
Priority to the Chinese Market: Global Exit Uncertainty
Persona 5: The Phantom, was initially launched as a mobile game project for the Chinese market. The game's open beta in China began on April 12, 2024, and has seen significant player interest. However, the lack of a clear global release strategy makes it difficult for the game to reach a wide audience worldwide. The current lack of English language support severely limits access to the game, especially for Persona fans in Western countries.
The game’s Steam page clearly states, “This product does not support English. Please check the list of supported languages before purchasing,” and there is a noticeable disappointment among fans due to the lack of a concrete timeline for an international release. While the announcement of a new game is always a source of excitement for Persona fans, the language barrier can overshadow that excitement. According to the studio’s statement, Persona 5: The Phantom's language options are likely to be expanded over time. It is stated that the game, developed with the Unity game engine, is optimized for both PC and consoles.
In conclusion, if you are a die-hard fan of the Persona series and are fluent in either Simplified Chinese or Japanese, Persona 5: The PhantomYou have the opportunity to experience . However, as the uncertainty about when English language support will be added continues, global players need to be a little more patient. Persona 5: The PhantomWhile , has great potential for those who want to explore the series' iconic atmosphere from a brand new perspective, overcoming the language barrier is critical for it to receive the international attention it deserves.
