'Persona 5' release date news: Atlus softens delay announcement with new details

Persona 5 main characters (clockwise, from left) - Phantom, Anne, Ryuji, and MorganaAtlus

One of the most anticipated games that fans have hoped to come out this year is the fifth installment of the "Persona" franchise. Sadly, game developer Atlus has just confirmed that the original release window of December this year has been pushed back to next year.

To soften the blow of the delay, Atlus also revealed the general points of the story in "Persona 5," along with a set of new images and a new trailer for the game.

According to Master Herald, the upcoming installment will be different from previous titles in the series, particularly "Persona 3" and "Persona 4." For instance, rather than getting a straight storyline for the main character, "Persona 5" will branch out its plots at different points from each character's point of view, with the as-yet-unnamed main protagonist as the central point. The multiple stories also branch out in combat, which will also be different from the upcoming title's predecessors. Whereas "Persona 3" and "Persona 4" have characters battling it out one at a time, "Persona 5" will have its main characters dubbed as Phantom Thieves and duking it out with multiple enemies at a given time.

In addition, "Persona 5" will focus more on social reforms rather than personal issues of the protagonists. The Phantom Thieves will see themselves battling various enemies, capturing their targets, and having heir prisoners confess their sins.

Meanwhile, Yibada reported that Atlus confirmed a new character joining the Phantom Thieves. According to the post, Atlus announced that the new protagonist, Yusuke Kitagawa, is an honor student taking art courses at Kosei Public School and serving as an apprentice to a famous painter. Like the other members of the Phantom Thieves, Yusuke will also have access to his Persona.

"Persona 5" will launch in Japan in the summer next year, with an unspecified release dates for western shores.