Metaphor: ReFantazio has solidified its place as a standout success, sweeping awards and becoming one of Atlus’ most rapidly selling titles to date. Naturally, fans are already clamoring for more, but director Katsura Hashino—the creative force behind both Metaphor and the Persona series—isn’t rushing to strike while the iron is hot. For Hashino, any potential sequel must justify its existence by being “worthwhile for the fans.”
“When we began development on this project, our ambition was to nurture it into a foundational brand for Atlus, standing alongside pillars like Shin Megami Tensei and Persona,” Hashino shared in an interview with Game Informer.
“However, simply reaching a level of commercial success doesn’t mean we want to impulsively pivot into a sequel. We want to be deliberate. If we continue this series, it must be built upon the same core values we infused into the first game—offering something truly meaningful to the community that supports us,” he explained.
For the time being, the development team is focused on ensuring the franchise is moving in a sustainable direction before expanding the IP. “We are certainly looking toward the future of the series, but we refuse to act purely on the basis of sales figures,” Hashino noted.
In the same conversation, the Persona 5 director clarified his current role within that franchise, stating he hasn’t been “intimately involved” with its production since the last mainline release, despite maintaining a close proximity to the development team.
While the wait for Persona 6 continues, Atlus has hinted at “major announcements in 2026” to coincide with the JRPG series’ 30th anniversary.
Subscribe to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Get your weekly fix of gaming news, community stories, and exclusive features.
Source: gamesradar.com
