Persona 5 Tacticahas been officially announced, and with it comes speculation over how the spin-off title will fit into thePersonaseries canon. The game looks to bringthe Phantom Thievesback into action through the inclusion of a mysterious new world, complete with tactics-based gameplay and a regal setting. Where it fits within thePersona 5timeline, however, is a bit unclear so far; its trailer suggests that Joker and the gang are still finishing the year at Shujin Academy given their attire, though the feature of Lavenza as the game’s Velvet Room attendant would imply that the events of the spin-off take place towards the end of the original’s story.
This brings into question howPersona 5 Tactica’s rumored DLCwill play out. Leaks have suggested that both Kasumi Yoshizawa and Goro Akechi will be available through the spin-off title’s downloadable content, as an image with their in-game portraits has been revealed. Though there isn’t yet conclusive evidence over whether this information is true, the potential for Akechi’s appearance could make for a bit of a confusing narrative—for starters, the leaked portrait has the character in his initial Crow attire, rather than the outfit he dons during his boss fight against the Phantom Thieves. This would imply that the game takes place before the revelation in Shido’s palace, though this doesn’t line up with Lavenza being there.
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Akechi’s Rumored Appearance in Persona 5 Tactica’s DLC Could Have Interesting Implications if Canon
If the story ofPersona 5 Tacticais meant to be canon, and the events of the story do take place after Shido’s palace, then this would imply that the character of Akechi is, in fact, still alive following the struggle with his cognitive self. This might have something to do with the warped reality present inPersona 5 Royal, though the character’s true fate has never been officially stated, only vaguely implied. If this rumored DLC becomes Atlus' way of making a definitive announcement regarding the character’s survival, then it might be a bit of an odd way to do so.
For starters, handling his character in a spin-off’s DLC rather than as a main plot point within the game might be a bit of a missed opportunity given how significant of a role his character played during the events of the original. While the DLC may have a heavy story component, its separation from the spin-off’s main game would inevitably leave its content missed out on by some. Given the track record ofPersona 5spin-offsweaving in references to the original title, leaving the character on the sidelines might be a difficult pill for fans to swallow.
Of course, there could be the chance thatGoro Akechiand Yoshizawa are there more for combat purposes than actual story relevance, though such a constraint would be uncharacteristic of thePersonaspin-offs' approach to characterization, especially when considering Yoshizawa has never had the chance to appear in one before. Still, this feels even stranger in regard to keeping the two behind DLC rather than integrating them within the main cast and story, but it can be argued that their narratives might detract fromTactica’s central plot.
Lastly, there is the chance thatTacticawon’t concern itself with a canon storyline, focusing more on telling an alternate story that doesn’t necessarily adhere to the original game’s timeline. If this is the case, then the story might choose not to addressAkechi’s supposed deathat all, though that could leave some disappointed over the lack of concrete evidence regarding his fate. Whatever the case, it will be interesting to see howTacticatreads in its rumored DLC and its depiction of the tragicPersona 5anti-hero.
Persona 5 Tacticais set to release on Aug 06, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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