Atlus producer Kazushi Wada reiterates the unlikelihood of Persona 3 Portable's popular female protagonist (FeMC), Kotone Shiomi/Minako Arisato, appearing in Persona 3 Reload. Wada explains the decision, citing significant development costs and time constraints as insurmountable obstacles.
The producer revealed that while the FeMC's inclusion was initially considered, particularly during the planning stages of the post-launch DLC, Episode Aigis - The Answer, budgetary and development limitations ultimately led to her exclusion. This decision, despite fan disappointment, proved necessary to maintain a manageable development timeline and budget.
Wada emphasizes the considerable challenges involved, stating that adding the FeMC would have required significantly more time and resources than creating the Episode Aigis DLC. He clarifies that even a post-release DLC featuring the FeMC isn't feasible within the current development framework. This effectively closes the door on any future hopes for her inclusion in Persona 3 Reload.
While many fans anticipated the FeMC's presence, either at launch or as DLC, Wada's comments confirm the impossibility of this scenario. Previous statements made to Famitsu echoed this sentiment, highlighting the substantial development hurdles involved. The high cost and extended development time associated with adding the FeMC were deemed prohibitive. Wada expressed his apologies to disappointed fans, leaving little room for future speculation on this matter.
