Summary
Persona 5 Strikersis currently missing the most recent additions to the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, but they don’t have to remain off the roster forever. There is a way thatPersona 5 Tacticacould let the duo fromPersona 5 Strikersmake their debut in the game without tampering with its status quo too much. After all, since they debuted in aPersona 5spin-off, it seems fair to give them a chance to thrive in another.Persona 5 Tacticais still a fresh game, and there’s still time for Sophia and Zenkichi to make an appearance.
The latest ofPersona 5’s several spin-offs,Persona 5 Tacticafollows the Phantom Thieves as they inexplicably find themselves in a fantasy world, set to fight against its corrupt rulers.Tactica’s twist on the formula seems to be a combination ofPersona 5’s mechanics alongside the grid-based combat of a game likeFire Emblem. True to its name, the spin-off is sure to require players to learn an entirely different set of tactics over the course of the game. The story is still largely under wraps, but at least one piece of DLC has been confirmed for the game, with the potential for more.
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Sophia and Zenkichi Aren’t Completely Out of Persona 5 Tactica Yet
Even though theWonderland theme ofPersona 5 Tacticadoesn’t make it obvious at first, the game takes place after the events ofPersona 5have concluded. However, the timeline places it before the summer trip that leads to the events ofPersona 5 Strikers, so the protagonists had yet to meet Sophia or Zenkichi at the time. Due to its place in the timeline, it seems likePersona 5 Tacticawouldn’t be able to include anyone other than the original Phantom Thieves and anyone they meet inTactica. However, there is a loophole that could still allow Sophia and Zenkichi into the game.
According to revealed information, thePersona 5 TacticaRepaint Your Heart DLCwill add Goro Akechi and Kasumi Yoshizawa as playable characters for the DLC’s own campaign. This implies that the DLC actually takes place before the main game ofPersona 5 Tacticain the timeline. After all, Akechi is implied to die inPersona 5, althoughPersona 5 Royaldoes imply that there’s a chance that he survived if the player maxes out his Confidant. While moving the timeline back brings it further away fromStrikers, it also opens the door for a DLC later in the timeline as well.
A second DLC later in the series' timeline would help to make sure thatSophia and Zenkichi aren’t left behind inP5Strikers. They’re both interesting characters, and they each have a hook that makes them stand out. Zenkichi is one of the few adult Persona users to appear in the series sincePersona 2, and being an AI with a Persona means that Sophie could take part in some unique scenarios. It would be interesting to see how both of their skillsets could be applied toPersona 5 Tactica’s format, and a second DLC could be the perfect opportunity to see them again.
Sophie and Zenkichi aren’t in the right place in the timeline to appear inPersona 5 Tactica’s, but they still have a chance. Theknown features ofPersona 5 Tacticapaint it as an unusual twist on the series with the potential to create some compelling battles. Two of the later additions to the Phantom Thieves are already joining through the Repaint Your Heart DLC, soStrikers' new additions should have the same opportunity as well. Sophia and Zenkichi deserve the chance to take part inPersona 5 Tactica, and further DLC can make that happen.
Persona 5 Tacticawill be released on May 20, 2025 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
