Quinton is a Staff Writer from the United States. In his youth, Quinton was ridiculed for making video game ranking lists instead of paying attention in math class. In adulthood, people sometimes pay him for it. Life’s a trip.
Taking his first steps into the industry in 2020, Quinton has written for several digital publications, but his permanent literary home is right here at TheGamer.
Before striking up a conversation with Quinton, consider the risks: he’ll find a way to transform almost any topic into an analysis of either world history, Star Trek, or – at least this one’s relevant to his career – all his favorite role-playing games.
Metaphor: ReFantazio has been out for over a year, and while its amazing launch sales did slow down to a noteworthy extent (and there’s probably a good reason for that), it’s certainly maintained a presence. JRPG fans are still chatting about its great cast and clever spin on a staple job system. Some of the more Persona-like elements did feel somewhat tacked-on, and I’m not alone in thinking there was a certain potential dungeon that didn’t make the cut in the final product, but it’s still very good overall.
Of course, when a new IP gets a solid reception, its fandom starts talking about possible sequels almost at once. Last year, not long after launch, Director Katsuro Hashino gave us our first tease for continuations. Twelve months later, he’s at it again, although it’s a few words within a far wider-spanning interview. Still… they’re nice words. Let’s analyze them.
All Hail King Louis II
The interview was with Game Informer, which, if you haven’t heard, is back in business after a tragic shutdown. They’re worth subscribing to, and you should maybe consider doing that! But, since a subscription is required to unlock full access to the article in question, our friends at GamesRadar+ helpfully pulled some excerpts.
Ostensibly, those excerpts concern Hashino’s less active role in the ongoing Persona franchise. Needless to say, Persona 5 Royal hit the jackpot; and, after he directed Persona 3, 4, and 5, it wouldn’t exactly have shocked the world if Hashino had gone on to direct Persona 6. (Wherever the heck that’s at.) “I’ve been on the sidelines,” he told Game Inofrmer, “watching them and looking over them to see what they’re doing. In that sense, I haven’t been super involved in the Persona series after P5.”
Makes sense. Hashino opened up a studio within Atlus a ways back, Studio Zero, which went on to deliver us Metaphor. P-Studio, where he previously stood at the helm, is indeed working away on Persona’s next big thing. Here’s the kicker, though:
“Within the physical office we have at Atlus, the studios that make Shin Megami Tensei, the studio that makes Persona, and us, the studio that makes Metaphor…”
Oh. Word. The awesome Shin Megami Tensei carries forward. The equally awesome Persona is destined to keep making bank. “And us, the studio that makes Metaphor,” Hashino says. Note: it’s been over 14 months since Metaphor: ReFantazio. There’s maybe, probably, not definitively, an enhanced edition en route. But that present-tense wordage really strikes me, and it’s striking fandom at-large.
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Hashino has previously stated he wants Metaphor to become “a flagship series.” Back then, he said there were no “concrete plans.” This is from that piece I linked in our article’s intro, and again, it was a long time ago. That he’s labeled Studio Zero in no uncertain Metaphor-centric terms is important. It doesn’t confirm a sequel, but it’s the latest and greatest piece to the puzzle. It may be a while yet before we get our first glimpse of it, but Metaphor: ReFantwozio could iron out the rougher edges in its predecessor and go for the gold.
No, I’m not seriously considering calling it that.
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I loved Metaphor. Even if Studio Zero doesn’t make a sequel, I’d be happy if they continue to make games with adult protagonists. I’m over the whole high school settings of Persona (4 was the last one I truly enjoyed) – they’ll always be a player base for high school Persona, it’s just no longer for me.
2025-12-28 08:45:01
