Persona 5: The Phantom X was recently listed on SteamDB, leading to speculations among fans that an international release for the highly anticipated gacha game may be imminent.
P5X Playtest Page on SteamDB Fuels Global Release Speculation
P5X Playtest Listed on October 15, 2024
Recently, Persona 5: The Phantom X (also known as P5X) made an appearance on SteamDB, a popular game database website for everything on Steam. This fueled speculations of a global PC release. Unfortunately, while the game has been playable in some parts of Asia since its release in April of this year, the SteamDB listing doesn’t necessarily indicate an imminent global launch.
The aforementioned SteamDB page, titled "PERSONA5 THE PHANTOM X Playtest," was created on October 15, 2024 and shows that the playtest has been accessed a few times, though it remains limited to a small number of users—perhaps by playtesters, as indicated by the username "pwtest." However, the beta version appears to be inaccessible at this time, as clicking the store-page button redirects users to Steam’s homepage.
P5X Playtest SteamDB Listing Likely Prepping for JP Release
Currently, P5X is available exclusively in select regions, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and South Korea. While the game has garnered a dedicated player base in these areas, there remains a significant demand for an international release, particularly from Western audiences.
Atlus, SEGA, and Perfect World did confirm that plans are in place for a broader release during an offline event in Shanghai on July 12, 2024. Moreover, SEGA also noted in their financial report for the fiscal year ending March 2024 that P5X’s "Future expansion in Japan and global is under consideration." Despite all of these, specific details regarding the timeline are still under wraps.
While there is hope for a Western release, it’s important to recognize that the initial announcements the developers made on Twitter (X) on September 25 and during Tokyo Game Show 2024 focused primarily on the game’s launch in Japan for both mobile platforms and Steam. This means that the aforementioned SteamDB page could simply be an indicator of a Japanese release rather than an immediate expansion into Western markets.
SEGA has been tight-lipped regarding the game’s international release, and it’s unclear when—or if—the game will expand beyond Japan and other Asian territories. Still, given the excitement surrounding the game’s Japan-only playtest and its high profile at events like Tokyo Game Show 2024, a global release seems more like a matter of "when" rather than "if."
In the meantime, fans can take solace in the fact that Persona 5: The Phantom X will also feature a robust lineup of collaborations with other Persona titles. Expect crossover events with Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Reload as the game continues to expand.
For more information on Persona 5: The Phantom X’s release, check out our article below!
Source:
Persona 5: The Phantom X Playtest SteamDB Page
SEGA FY Ended March 2024 Results Presentation
SEGA/ATLUS Special Program in TGS2024
