Summary
Persona 6can keep the Phantom Thieves relevant for another installment, although it may require leaving behind a certain franchise tradition. There are a lot of ways thatPersona 6could provide a radical departure from past games in the series. Gameplay, tone, and mechanics are all areas that would be fair game for the game to innovate. However, there are some other ways thatPersona 6could break from tradition that may not seem obvious at first glance. It might be an unusual decision, but it could also be the best chance to seePersona 5’s Phantom Thieves again.
ThePhantom Thieves fromPersona 5quickly ascended to become some of the most memorable characters in thePersonaseries. Part of it had to do with being in the most recent and successful new release in the series, but their interesting mix of personalities and flashy thief outfits also helped them stand out. They took the series' title in a new direction by not only having Personas of their own, but adopting new codenames in their roles as the Phantom Thieves. With several spin-offs,Persona 5proved to be a major success for Atlus, and the Phantom Thieves were a major reason why.
Persona 6 Doesn’t Have To Follow the Real-World Timeline
Persona 5’s Phantom Thieves Were More Famous Than the Series' Norm
It’s possible for thePhantom Thieves to live on inPersona 6. After all, their actions inPersona 5had plenty of far-reaching consequences, bringing down corrupt figures ranging from a sadistic teacher to a vile politician. Not to mention, the Phantom Thieves even had a fan site, so unlike past protagonists, they were well-known, even though nobody knew their true identities. While S.E.E.S. and the Investigation Team were under-the-radar in their actions, the Phantom Thieves left a far more visible footprint with their work.Persona 6could reflect that by including a few shout-outs to the group during the game.
Persona 6 Can Call Back to the Phantom Thieves
One way to give the Phantom Thieves some more spotlight could involvePersona 6breaking a series tradition.Personagames have typically taken place around the time that they release in real life. As a result, each game has managed to establish its place in a consistent timeline, with the level of technology feeling up-to-date for the time. IfPersona 6follows series tradition, it will have jumped at least 8 years since the heyday of the Phantom Thieves. While that would provide an option to meet the Thieves' older selves, the public’s memory of the Phantom Thieves may have subsided.
Persona 6 Could Take Place Shortly After Persona 5
Changing a few aspects of the usual timeline for the series could be the most convenient way forPersona 6to include the Phantom Thieves. If only one or two years had passed since the events ofPersona 5, then the Phantom Thieves and their actions could still be fresh in the minds of many people. Alternatively, if the usual time skip happens, perhaps the Phantom Thieves could have remained active for all those years, keeping them in the minds of the public. Either option would provide a valid reason for the Phantom Thieves to still be in the public consciousness inPersona 6.
IfPersona 6follows series tradition, it will have jumped at least 8 years since the heyday of the Phantom Thieves.
The Phantom Thieves' time as protagonists may have passed by the time ofPersona 6, but they don’t have to be cut out entirely. IfPersona 6stays in Tokyo, there’s a valid argument for fitting the Phantom Thieves, or at least their memory, in the game somewhere. If the timeline slows down a bit to bring the events of the two games closer together, it could be a fine way to pass the torch. The heroes ofPersona 6do not necessarily need to forget about the Phantom Thieves.
