Atlus producer Kazushi Wada reiterates the unlikelihood of Persona 3 Portable's female protagonist (FeMC), Kotone Shiomi/Minako Arisato, appearing in Persona 3 Reload. Wada, in a recent interview with PC Gamer, clarified that including the FeMC was deemed too expensive and time-consuming, even as post-launch DLC.
The decision, made during the planning stages of the Episode Aigis - The Answer DLC, stemmed from significant development hurdles and budget constraints. Despite fan demand, Wada stated that adding the FeMC was simply not feasible within the current timeframe or budget. He expressed regret, acknowledging the disappointment this would cause dedicated fans.
Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the 2006 JRPG, launched in February. While the game faithfully recreates many core elements, the FeMC's absence remains a point of contention among players. Wada previously emphasized the substantial development challenges in a Famitsu interview, highlighting the significantly increased cost and time commitment compared to the Episode Aigis DLC. He explicitly stated that including the FeMC is currently impossible.
While many fans hoped for the FeMC's inclusion, either at launch or as future DLC, Wada's latest comments effectively rule out this possibility. The significant resource investment required makes it highly improbable that the FeMC will ever be added to Persona 3 Reload.
