Persona 5 finally has a western release date

Persona 5 finally has a release date for the west - though unfortunately it's not arriving in the US until February 2017, some nine years after Persona 4, two years after Atlus' RPG sequel was first expected on PS4, and five months after its Japanese release. Still, it's definitely coming out (in the US at least - we're awaiting details on a European release while remaining grateful there's no region locking on the PS4).

Persona 5 comes out this September in Japan, having first been announced in 2013 when it was initially targeting a 2015 release on PlayStation 3. The PlayStation 3 version still exists, and will launch alongside the PS4 version in Japan and on the US release on February 14th. The Persona series has been running since 1996, and saw an explosion in popularity with the release of Persona 4 in 2008 and its Vita re-release Persona 4 Golden in 2012.

Atlus addressed the wait fans have endured for Persona 5 in an official PlayStation blog post. "If you're still thinking: "Why 2017!? You promised us 2015, and then 2016! Now it's 2017?!!!?!" Well, the biggest factor in the 2017 release date is attention to detail. When we show off Persona 5 footage at E3 next week (Next week!), I think you'll understand what we mean. We're making sure every bit is in place. Persona has exponentially grown as a franchise, and considering that this is our first numbered sequel since 2008, ATLUS is taking its time to ensure this is the best possible experience."

While we wait for that, though, here's last the Persona 5 trailer from last year's E3.

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