Atlus producer Kazushi Wada reiterates the unlikelihood of Persona 3 Portable's female protagonist (FeMC), Kotone Shiomi/Minako Arisato, appearing in Persona 3 Reload. This follows previous statements expressing the significant development challenges and costs associated with her inclusion.
FeMC's Exclusion Due to Resource Constraints
Wada, in a recent PC Gamer interview, clarified that while initially considered, adding the FeMC was deemed unfeasible due to budgetary and time constraints. Even post-launch DLC, like the released Episode Aigis - The Answer, couldn't accommodate her integration. The scope of incorporating the FeMC would have significantly extended development time and budget, exceeding manageable limits.
Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the 2006 JRPG, launched in February. The omission of Kotone/Minako disappointed many fans, despite the game's faithful recreation of core features. Wada's statements definitively close the door on future inclusion, stating it's "likely never going to happen."
This decision contrasts with the relatively less demanding development of the Episode Aigis DLC. Previous interviews with Famitsu echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the disproportionately high costs and development time compared to other additions. The popularity of the FeMC in Persona 3 Portable fueled fan expectations, but Wada's comments firmly dismiss any possibility of her appearance in Persona 3 Reload.
