The world of JRPGs is shifting dramatically, and for Katsura Hashino — the creator of Persona 3, 4, 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio — this transformation has a label: JRPG 3.0.
At the G-Star/G-Con 2025 conference in Korea, Atlus’ director argued that the genre has moved from its foundational “1.0” phase through a period of modern refinement called “2.0.” The next step, he said, won’t be just a technical upgrade but a radical rethinking of games’ structures and expressive language.
Together with art director Shigenori Soejima he illustrated how fleeting gameplay moments can be shaped into enduring experiences. From initial concepts to visual choices, they walked the audience through the development of the Persona and Catherine sagas, and finally Metaphor.
Each title centers on a distinct thematic core: Persona 3 — “death and rebirth,” Persona 4 — “harmony,” Catherine — “temptation and downfall,” Persona 5 — “hope through rebellion,” and Metaphor — “the interplay of anxiety, heroism, and societal judgment.”
Hashino observed a recurring pattern: these themes echo the Major Arcana of the Tarot — from the “Fool” through cycles of transformation and renewal. That insight sparked the idea of a larger, underlying narrative that could shape the saga’s identity.
From that notion came the concept of JRPG 3.0. These games reconceptualize the genre, proposing new ways to present journeys, engage players, and convert plot into emotional resonance. Metaphor closes one creative loop in fantasy, while the next project could mark the beginning of a new generation of JRPGs.
Source: iXBT.games