Persona 6 needs to have nothing short of LGBT dating options.

[WarpSpeedMolasses]

I'm currently playing through P4. Game is nice enough. Soundtrack's fun. I like the cast for the most part. I can also take the fanservice and most of Yosuke's yammering about scoring chics in stride. Everything doesn't have to be tailored specifically for me. That's fine. But maaan, Kanji's arc is some bullshit. I dunno what their intention was with this character, but imo, it doesn't come across well at all.

Given how they handled him, along with one of the endings for Catherine FB, it'd be such a nice turn-around if they made effort to be more inclusive with P6. They don't have to take fanservice away, and they don't have to force any particular relarions or whatever. Just have options. Totally different genre, I know, but Stardew Valley lets you date (or not date) whatever gender you want in a completely unintrusive manner. Why can't more games do this?

It's not like I was expecting these games to touch upon LGBT instances in any form, but given Atlus's tendency to apparently not shy away such topics, they might as well do it right and offer properly written characters and representation.

 

[Woylie]

It does.

But it won't.

 

[Squidofman]

Or just let us date Yusuke in P5 Golden....

 

[Hops]

It doesn't need to. One thing is if you want that but the series really doesn't need that, especially if the developers aren't into the idea of adding those dating options.

It is a touchy subject anyways and if they do force themselves to do it you will probably see people whining that they didn't do it the "right way".

 

[Gold Arsene]

Or just let us date Yusuke in P5 Golden....

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If they let you date anyone it's gonna be Akechi and we all know it.

 

[Martylepiaf]

P6 will not be developed by Hashino's team so it's possible
But get ready for gay jokes in Project re: Fantasy somehow

 

[The Pharmercy]

It'd be cool, but part of me wants P6 to be a revamp that does away with the Social Link stuff.

Although since it's a new team, I also want them to just remake the P2 Duology...

 

[vestan]

Or just let us date Yusuke in P5 Golden....

Click to shrink...

 

[Zeroro]

I thought this was something P-Studio would fix with P5; I'm naive as fuck, apparently! With Hashino no longer on the series, hopefully the person who replaces him will have a better approach to these sorts of things (again, probably being too naive).

 

[Khanimus]

It doesn't need to. One thing is if you want that but the series really doesn't need that, especially if the developers aren't into the idea of adding those dating options.

It is a touchy subject anyways and if they do force themselves to do it you will probably see people whining that they didn't do it the "right way".

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Right now, their way is to treat the LGBT+ community like absolute fucking shit while claiming to be a game about fighting for the trodden-on and underpowered in society.

They can fuck right off with this "but we don't wanna" shit because the angle they've chosen is to be actively hateful.

 

[Zeroro]

Right now, their way is to treat the LGBT+ community like absolute fucking shit while claiming to be a game about fighting for the trodden-on and underpowered in society.

They can fuck right off with this "but we don't wanna" shit because the angle they've chosen is to be actively hateful.

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Yeah, specifically with P5, it undermines the entire fucking main theme of the game.

 

[Gamer @ Heart]

If it more high schoolers, 5% chance.

 

[Tagyhag]

Reminder that there was going to be a path where you could date Yosuke but they took that out. What a shame.

Could have been a good "Oh, so that's why he's so insecure" story.

 

[Virtua Sanus]

It really does not, but I would not be against it. At least, only if it is handled respectfully and not like an awkward BioWare way of handling a gay relationship.

I am honestly pretty surprised people take Kanji's arc to directly mean he had to be gay. Being a teen and first starting to recognize what you like or where you fit in within the world can be an especially difficult thing for many people. Hell, he might just be bisexual. Yosuke having a cut gay relationship feels like it would carry a lot more weight to me personally, kind of surprised they never went through with it in Persona 4 Golden. It would've made sense with how insecure he is.

 

[WarpSpeedMolasses]

Reminder that there was going to be a path where you could date Yosuke but they took that out. What a shame.

Could have been a good "Oh, so that's why he's so insecure" story.

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Oh wow yea...

Would have been super damn weird to have that though in the same game that treats Kanji the way it does.

 

[Rival]

It really doesn't need it, and it needs it even less if it's going to be shoehorned in just to keep people happy, only for those same people to then complain it's not well done.

It needs to be done organically if it's done, and for no other reason than that the designers want it like that, because then it's more likely to be woven into the narrative as opposed to pointlessly tagged on

 

[TheCthultist]

It does.

But it won't.

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Pretty much. Persona 5 needed the same thing and didn't.
It'd be nice, but don't hold your breath.

 

[Kangi]

I'm certain they'd handle such a thing with the utmost adeptness, respect, and sensitivity.

 

[Rendering...]

I'd sooner trust a random handful of middle schoolers to cobble together a respectful story that speaks to the LGBT experience.

 

[WarpSpeedMolasses]

It really does not, but I would not be against it. At least, only if it is handled respectfully and not like an awkward BioWare way of handling a gay relationship.

I am honestly pretty surprised people take Kanji's arc to directly mean he had to be gay. Being a teen and first starting to recognize what you like or where you fit in within the world can be an especially difficult thing for many people. Hell, he might just be bisexual.

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I could have seen this if his posessed/dark-self didn't come across like gay-stereotypes played up for laughs. This is also maybe just my interpretation, but the story came across to me like rescuing him "cured" him of identifying/being lgbt.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

I don't think I trust the Persona team to handle LGBT dating. Not after the three Social Link games all fucked up LGBT representation in one way or another.

 

[LAA]

Don't think it needs to, it could and it'd be nice, but if they have a specific story they want to tell, don't see why it should be changed.
I think if they are to include LGBT+ elements though they should handle them correctly, which I don't have much confidence in tbh.

 

[VanDoughnut]

Don't think they're skilled enough to pull it off honestly.

 

[Unkindled]

It's not some kind of necessity that the game need's to have. I will be happy with or without it as long as game is good.

 

[Virtua Sanus]

I could have seen this if his posessed/dark-self didn't come across like gay-stereotypes played up for laughs. This is also maybe just my interpretation, but the story came across to me like rescuing him "cured" him of identifying/being lgbt.

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All of their shadow selves are outrageously exaggerated. Rise and Yukiko are absolutely not the mega sluts their other selves portray them as, for example.

I honestly connected with Kanji's story a fair deal. Emotions that go against social normalities can be frightening as you are hitting puberty. Especially when you are growing up around a lot of other kids with similarly negative or hateful world views.

 

[Jaq'or]

I could have seen this if his posessed/dark-self didn't come across like gay-stereotypes played up for laughs. This is also maybe just my interpretation, but the story came across to me like rescuing him "cured" him of identifying/being lgbt.

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Yeah, the characterization in both Japanese and English is pretty overtly stereotypical in its treatment of Kanji's sexuality as joke fodder—or, even worse, something "evil" that must be "defeated."

 

[Aters]

Just keep all the social link unchanged and let me be female protagonist.

 

[Ometeotl]

They need to excise Hashino first

 

[Strings]

I'm wary of saying it needs it, just because of how poorly games that felt they had to did (all the romance options in Bioware games). That said, FeMC + LGBT options would be rad, but a lot of extra work.

They need to excise Hashino first

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We already know he isn't on the next one.

 

[Zeouter]

Yes, agreed, it really does.

 

[Trisc]

Or just let us date Yusuke in P5 Golden....

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Does dating Yusuke include his lobsters?

 

[danmaku]

It's not necessary, but it's necessary to fix their writing. Less homophibic bullshit and less bloat.

 

[Potterson]

Japan society has to improve in that matter first*

 

[Snowfruit]

They need to excise Hashino first

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Hashino won't be directing Persona 6 https://personacentral.com/persona-series-director-katsura-hashino-leaving-future-successors/
Who knows if he'll be completely hands-off, but if he's not involved then I could maybe see it happening.

 

[Chie Satonaka]

Yep.

I was actually shocked that Fire Emblem beat Persona to having same sex romance options. This has been a long time coming and it's ridiculous it hasn't happened yet.

 

[LossAversion]

I'd like this.

And I'd like to see one of two things happen with the protagonist. Either let us choose between a male and female protagonist or give the defined protagonist a voice.

 

[Dark_Castle]

Baby steps man. Persona 6 should first be void of any transphobic crap. You bet if they're gonna put in more lgbt stuffs, chances are they'll screw it up in some ways.

 

[Arkanim94]

Yep.

I was actually shocked that Fire Emblem beat Persona to having same sex romance options. This has been a long time coming and it's ridiculous it hasn't happened yet.

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Well, persona did have a same sex romance in P2.
It was aeons ago and hardly matters for the persona serie as it is from 3 onward.

 

[Elven_Star]

Why does it have to? As long as they don't disrespect anyone, they can put in whatever kind of relationship they please.

 

[Menx64]

Persona has to stop using the high School setting tbh. I don't want a game of children dating, but rather I would gladly take one were they are already in college or just friends.
Add all dating options, but don't make it high school anymore pls.

 

[WarpSpeedMolasses]

Why does it have to? As long as they don't disrespect anyone, they can put in whatever kind of relationship they please.

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I'd agree but have you seen what LGBT content has been like in their previous games? It's not like those needed to be there, executed the way they are.

All of their shadow selves are outrageously exaggerated. Rise and Yukiko are absolutely not the mega sluts their other selves portray them as, for example.

I honestly connected with Kanji's story a fair deal. Emotions that go against social normalities can be frightening as you are hitting puberty. Especially when you are growing up around a lot of other kids with similarly negative or hateful world views.

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I completely disagree with your take, but don't mean to negate or dismiss your interpretation at all. It really sounds like you connected with that arc.

Maybe I just expect more heavy-handedness, but I think I ultimately need more assurance from the writing to feel OK about the intention of that arc.

I love Atlus games, (hell most of us here are huge fans) but I personally can't give the team the benefit of the doubt in these instances given the pattern showcased so far.

 

[Dark_Castle]

Persona has to stop using the high School setting tbh. I don't want a game of children dating, but rather I would gladly take one were they are already in college or just friends.
Add all dating options, but don't make it high school anymore pls.

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I'd love another Persona game that focuses on adult characters like in Eternal Punishment.

 

[Hours Left]

Yes it should. Male and female.

 

[Sign My Guestbook!]

Flat out it won't. The director's feelings seem clear at this point.

You're way more likely to be right if you surmise the depiction of Puritan non-ideal human beings will get worse. Now there are solid teams in this day and age that will support him, the director might as well pick one and dive in all the way as long as he's not stopped by his producers.

 

[Mechaplum]

I'd agree but have you seen what LGBT content has been like in their previous games? It's not like those needed to be there, executed the way they are.
.

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Maybe the next step for them is to be respectful, instead of wholesale add something they don't even understand or respect into the game.

 

[Mr. Capo]

I want a college focused Persona 6 where you hang out with the boys, listening to jams while drinking alcohol.

 

[Illusion]

Remember, Japan is like two generations behind, but in some ways two generations ahead when it comes to LGBT community.

It's cool we had some gay characters in Persona, but I agree, I'd love gay, non-binary, and transgendered options. These are topics that a game like Persona could explore very well.

 

[Willin]

I'm all for gay romance options in Persona but can we please not have every character be romanceable regardless of gender. I hate games that make characters romanceable purely to give the player choice. Mass Effect 3 had gay characters but if you weren't the gender they were attracted to you got rejected. That's how the world works. I cannot date anyone I want just because I want to do so. Especially in Persona where every MC since 3 is some sort of sex god that attracts every female within a 5 mile radius. In Persona 5 you could literally date every female confidant

Spoiler: Persona 5

(except Sae for story reasons)

I mean like come on.

 

[NightShift]

That's asking a lot from that studio but if any game needs it more, it's a potential P3 remake. Not having Akihiko and Mitsuru be datable for both playable genders should be a crime.

 

[Giever]

I don't agree that it needs them. But I would like to see them, yeah.

Although, as a bisexual man, if they provide LGBT dating options, I have to say I would also like them to include less insufferable men, otherwise I'm not all that interested anyway.