Atlus producer Kazushi Wada reiterates the unlikelihood of the Persona 3 Portable female protagonist (FeMC), Kotone Shiomi/Minako Arisato, appearing in Persona 3 Reload. This decision, revealed in a recent PC Gamer interview, stems from significant development costs and time constraints.
Initially considered during post-launch DLC planning for Episode Aigis - The Answer, integrating the FeMC proved too demanding. Wada clarified that even DLC inclusion wasn't feasible within the current timeframe. The substantial resources required to add the FeMC would far exceed those allocated to Episode Aigis, making it practically impossible.
The February 2024 release of Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the 2006 classic, omitted the FeMC, disappointing many fans. Despite considerable fan demand, Wada's statements leave little room for future inclusion. He previously stated to Famitsu that the development time and cost would be "several times longer" than Episode Aigis.
While the FeMC's popularity fueled hopes for her appearance in Persona 3 Reload, either at launch or as DLC, Wada's comments effectively rule out this possibility. The insurmountable development challenges and budgetary limitations make it highly improbable that she will ever be added.
