Persona 5 Delayed to 2016 in Japan and North America

One of the most anticipated games of this year is now one of the most anticipated games of next year. Confirming something we had all long suspected, Atlus today confirmed at TGS that Persona 5 will now be launching in 2016 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, in both, Japan and North America.

They didn’t give us too many specifics on the release date, beyond specifying a Summer window for Japan; the North American release should feasibly follow sometime shortly afterwards, but with this game and its protracted development cycle, it is really hard to tell anymore.

“The strengths of the Persona series are compelling characters, a moving, relatable story, and a borderline obsession with minutiae – elements which can’t be rushed or taken lightly. So while Atlus realizes the frustration and disappointment that this must cause for the JRPG-loving public, please know that we are delaying the game in order to make sure the next iteration of the Persona series lives up to the expectations of fans,” the company said in its statement announcing the delay.

Persona 5 is now due to launch for the PlayStation 3 and 4 some time next year, a full three years after its initial official announcement, six years since it first began to be openly discussed by Atlus, and eight years after Persona 4’s release.