Opinion: Atlus, The Way You Handle DLC is Anti-Consumer
Last week, Xbox held a Partner Preview that was well received by the majority that viewed it. It featured games from developers of many different publishers such as Atlus. Who announced that one of the most crucial pieces of content for the original Persona 3, The Answer, was being made a separate DLC offering for Persona 3: Reload. Usually, when an announcement for more of something good is being made, there is joy to be found. But with this announcement it called into question the business side of Atlus.
Originally, titles like Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 had re-releases. These re-releases would always have quality of life improvements and some DLC. As well as a whole new section for each game. For example, Persona 5 had the “Royal” edition come out and change a lot of stuff in game. Such as not having to buy ammo and having a grappling hook for cool maneuverability around its palaces. While also including a whole new chapter to the game for an epic finale. But for Persona 3, it had the “FES” edition. This added the aforementioned The Answer as a form of epilogue, but you did not have to replay the game to experience it like you did in Persona 5.
So, with that in mind, what is the problem with The Answer being sold after the main game released instead of Persona 3: Reload being repackaged with it?
It Might as Well Have Been
The problem with the The Answer being sold separately after the game launched is one that can be explained easily with some math. You see, Persona 3: Reload already launched with variable editions for itself that included DLC. This went from a now standardized cost of $69.99 USD to upwards of $99.99 USD. The Answer will be part of an expansion pass that will also include two other pieces of DLC for $34.99. This would bring the total cost of owning Persona 3: Reload with every piece of DLC to nearly the cost of two games, $134.99 USD.
Effectively repeating the same process. Now the current DLC’s are not essential to experience the main narrative. They are basically just skin packs, changeable music from recent titles and free personas to use while playing the game. It is just very weird to me that there is a second batch of similar DLC being released in conjunction with content that many claims should have been in the base game. I have not played The Answer so I am not sure how it compares in scale and scope with Persona 3 itself. But I can definitely say that I agree with everyone when they say this is all costs way too much.
The extra music you can use in the game and extra skins are not really exciting to begin with. This applies to both packs the game offers. Especially when neither of these packs even offer unique content to Persona 3 Portable. Such as Maragret’s challenge rooms and Kotone, the optional female protagonist that modders have already added to the PC version. If some of these skin packs and music packs were added in free updates instead. While Atlus worked on adding all of the past content to the game to make Persona 3: Reload an all-in-one package? The blow would have been softed.
But instead, the current offerings for DLC have muddied what fans have always wanted. While also bringing similar practices to their other series.
Atlus, back with a Vengeance
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance was announced at the latest Nintendo Direct. It is effectively a Royal or in the case of Persona 3, FES style re-release. Where it adds a whole lot of new content, so much so that I am very excited as a fan of that game. But since it is a new version of an already existing game. The announcement instead disrespected owners of the game on the Nintendo Switch platform. Considering it was an exclusive, there are no upgrade paths to this new version of the game. Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance will also include all of the DLC that the $84.99 USD version had at a lowered cost to $59.99 USD.
This offering sounds enticing to people on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation. But for players on the Nintendo Switch? They only get to bring over three demons they’ve collected, which sounds inane. Originally when Atlus had to re-release their game’s like with Persona 4: Golden, and Persona 5: Royal. They were at least brought to newer platforms. Persona 4 was a PlayStation 2 title, while Golden was a PlayStation Vita title. While it is true that Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance is being brought to newer platforms like Steam, the Xbox Series consoles and PlayStation 5? It being re-released on the Switch with no upgrade path for existing owners is anti-consumer. Just like the expansion pass for Persona 3: Reload.
What can they do?
Honestly, while the backlash is there for stuff like the expansion pass and even some snide remarks for Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance. There are two possible outlooks for how Atlus handles their DLC. To fans, me included, this seems like greed, and nobody is wrong for thinking that. But I believe Atlus is just stuck in the past. For almost two decades they worked with various re-releases and only just recently started adding DLC to their games. Like the original Persona 5, where there were various DLCs like we see with Persona 3: Reload now.
Whether this is greed from Atlus or Sega themselves. Or simply a case of them not being quick on the uptake with modern business practices? It would behoove them to do better for their fans. If there is “no chance” for Kotone in Persona 3: Reload, there better be soon. If there will never be an upgrade path for existing owners of Shin Megami Tensei 5 for Vengenace? At least offer some meaningful rewards for them when they bought the title when it was just on the Nintendo Switch. Putting the expansion pass on Xbox Game Pass means nothing to players on Steam and PlayStation and will not soften the blow there.
I genuinely loved Persona 3: Reload and would love to see its reception age better over time, not grow bitter.
