In the wake ofPersona 5’s overwhelming success, it stands to reason that Atlus would want to direct new fans to its other RPG franchises. TheMegami Tenseifamily of games is broad and diverse, but not every branch of the tree is equally famous, soPersona’s expanded fanbase is a valuable resource. With that in mind, the announcement ofSoul Hackers 2is less surprising. Atlus is clearly trying to launch a new generation ofMegami Tenseigames afterPersona 5’s success, and that’s a great thing since it means Atlus fans can expect other beloved IPs to come back.
Soul Hackers 2may send a more complicated message. It is very different from its predecessor in a lot of ways, from aesthetics to its gameplay, and that suggests otherMegami Tenseifranchises could get major reworks when Atlus decides to revisit them. There’s a good chance moreMegami Tenseirevivals are on the way given recent comments aboutexpanding theShin Megami Tenseibrand, but fans shouldn’t expect predictable, traditional sequels to old games. Instead, Atlus may intend to develop some creative new takes on old IPs.
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Soul Hackers 2’s Evolution
The originalSoul Hackersgame is from the late 1990s, so it’s only natural thatSoul Hackers 2differs. For instance, whileDevil Summoner: Soul Hackershad a dimly lit cyberpunk aesthetic that reflected classic 20th century sci-fi,Soul Hackers 2has a far more colorful, flashy take on cyberpunk sci-fi that will likely influence its plot.Soul Hackers 2also borrows some major mechanics fromPersona,including social sim elements and a type of All-Out Attack called Sabbath. What’s more,the AI protagonist Ringois a very different character from the originalSoul Hackers' human lead.
Soul Hackers 2’s differences aren’t so surprising given the franchise’s age. It’s been so long since its predecessor came out thatSoul Hackers 2is akin to a rebootof the original concept, bringing theSoul HackersIP into the modern age. Atlus is wise to give this franchise a fresh coat of paint before reintroducing it to theMegami Tenseifanbase, and Atlus' willingness to do so suggests other IP will get major reworks if they reappear. Should Atlus decide to bring backSMTspin-offs likeDevil Children, Devil Survivor,orMajin Tensei,they’ll probably end up looking very different.
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Megami Tensei May Expand Greatly
There’s strong evidence that moreMegami Tenseirevivals are on the way. A recent Sega investor meeting suggested that Atlus' parent company is pleased with the success ofPersonaandShin Megami Tensei,and it wants to expand these franchises in the coming years.Shin Megami Tensei 5’s directoralso recently expressed interest in helpingSMTgrow through new games and revivals; that kind of internal enthusiasm forMegami Tenseiis invaluable.Soul Hackers 2may very well be the result of this growing excitement about theMegami Tenseifamily, meaning it’s only the first of many upcoming games.
No matter how many IPs Atlus revives,Megami Tenseiveterans should be prepared for surprises. In order to make the IPs more relatable and compelling for modern audiences, Atlus will likely see to it thatpastMegami Tenseisubfranchiseswill return with tons of new themes, characters, and mechanics that reflect current RPG archetypes and mechanics. There’s no telling what Atlus' various IPs will look like in the end, but hopefully fans won’t have to wait long to find out. There’s only a few months to go beforeSoul Hackers 2comes out, and after that Atlus is bound to start hinting at what’s next.
Soul Hackers 2releases June 21, 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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