Persona Creator Declares Dawn of ‘JRPG 3.0′ wiht New Title
TOKYO – katsura Hashino, creator of the Persona series, believes the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) genre is on the cusp of a significant evolution, entering what he terms “JRPG 3.0.” The declaration came in a recent interview with Japanese gaming site 4gamer,published November 14,2023.
hashino outlined a three-phase history of JRPGs. He described “Version 1.0” as the genreS foundational classics – exemplified by titles like early Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy from the late 1980s.The current iteration, “Version 2.0,” is characterized by increased responsiveness to player feedback and a generally higher level of polish. Hashino positions his current work as spearheading the structural and gameplay revolution of “Version 3.0.”
While the interview offered no specifics regarding the future of JRPG 3.0, Hashino is currently developing Persona 6 following the completion of Metaphor: ReFantazio, slated for release in 2024. The timing has fueled speculation that announcements related to this new era of JRPGs may arrive soon, potentially at The Game Awards.
Hashino’s comments arrive as Atlus gains prominence, challenging the long-held dominance of Square Enix in the JRPG market-a position some attribute to Square Enix’s slower adaptation to changing player preferences.
