Persona Games: Sweet and Poisonous

Kazuhisa Wada identifies the 2006 release of Persona 3 as a pivotal moment. Prior to this, Atlus adhered to a philosophy Wada calls "Only One," characterized by a "like it or lump it" attitude prioritizing edgy content and shocking moments over broad appeal.

Wada notes that pre-Persona 3, market considerations were almost taboo within the company. However, Persona 3 shifted Atlus' approach to a "Unique & Universal" strategy. The company now focuses on creating original content with wider accessibility, effectively incorporating market analysis into its game design to enhance user-friendliness and engagement.

Wada uses the metaphor of "poison in pretty packaging" to describe this shift. The "pretty package" represents stylish design and appealing characters, while the "poison" is Atlus' continued commitment to powerful and surprising narrative elements. This "Unique & Universal" approach, Wada states, will underpin future Persona titles.