Atlus Director Katsura Hashino Declares Dawn of ‘JRPG 3.0’
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A new era is upon us for Japanese role-playing games,according to industry visionary Katsura Hashino. The director of acclaimed franchises like Shin Megami Tensei, Persona, and the upcoming Metaphor: ReFantazio believes the genre is entering a pivotal phase – what he terms “JRPG 3.0” – poised to revolutionize both structure and gameplay.
Hashino, who has propelled Atlus to the forefront of the JRPG landscape, is directly challenging the established dominance of Square Enix and its flagship titles, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. While those franchises remain popular, one analyst noted thay have struggled to evolve and adapt to changing player expectations.
A History in Three Phases
In a recent interview with 4gamer, Hashino outlined his perspective on the evolution of JRPGs, dividing the genre’s progression into three distinct iterations. He described “Version 1.0” as the foundational, “true classic” conception of the genre, citing titles like early Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy from the late 1980s as prime examples.
The current state of JRPGs, Hashino explained, represents “Version 2.0” – a period characterized by increased responsiveness to player feedback and a generally higher level of quality. Though, the true leap forward will come with “Version 3.0,” a structural and presentational overhaul that promises to redefine the genre.
“And Hashino would like to think he’s forging it now,” according to the interview.
Persona 6 and the Future of JRPGs
While the specifics of JRPG 3.0 remain shrouded in mystery, anticipation is building around atlus’s next major release: Persona 6. Currently in development following the completion of Metaphor: ReFantazio in 2024, Persona 6 is widely considered the most anticipated installment in one of the genre’s most celebrated franchises.
Speculation is rife that Atlus will unveil more details about its vision for the future of JRPGs,perhaps at The Game Awards. “Who knows, maybe with The Game Awards so close, Hashino warned us that we’d be seeing some of those 3.0 JRPGs soon,” one commenter observed. The industry waits with bated breath to see if Hashino’s vision will indeed usher in a new golden age for JRPGs.
