Atlus producer Kazushi Wada explains once again why it is unlikely that the popular female protagonist (FeMC) from Persona 3 Portable ever arrives in Persona 3 Reload. Read on to learn more about his comments.
No FeMC for Persona 3 ReloadAdding Kotone/Minako Would be Too Expensive and Time-Consuming
In an interview recently reported by PC Gamer, producer Kazushi Wada revealed that Atlus had initially considered adding the distinguished female protagonist (FeMC) from Persona 3 Portable, otherwise known as Kotone Shiomi/Minako Arisato. While planning the Persona 3 Reload post-launch DLC, Episode Aigis - The Answer, however, it was ultimately decided to exclude the FeMC due to significant development and budget restraints.
Persona 3 Reload is the full remake of the 2006 JRPG masterpiece, and released back in February this year. The game reintroduces many features and mechanics characteristic to the installment, but the absence of Kotone/Minako disappointed many fans. Despite fan outcry, Wada made it clear that including the character was simply not feasible.
"The more we debated it, the more improbable it became," Wada explained. "The development time and costs would not have been manageable." Even if the idea of adding her through a DLC was considered, "but since it is not possible for us to release P3R with the female protagonist in this window, we just can’t do it," he reportedly said. "I'm really sorry to all of the fans who were holding out hope, but it is likely never going to happen."
"For a female protagonist, I am sorry to say that unfortunately, there is no possibility," Wada reportedly explained in an earlier interview with Famitsu. "The development time and cost would be several times longer than Episode Aigis, and the hurdles would be too high."
