Katsura Hashino the director and producer of PS2 role-playing games Persona 3 and Persona 4 just said that they are starting work on the next Persona.
http://kotaku.com/5500764/persona-developers-making-newpersona

Awesome! Looking forward to it.

It's hardly surprising, but nice to have real confirmation of it. The team seems to have had a real knack for paying attention to consumer feedback, so here's hoping they make lightning strike again.

Ugh!  Sad news since this would imply that we won't see a new SMT: Persona game for another year or more.  Persona 4 came out in 2008 and if this next version is just getting started then I guess we won't see anything before next year's TGS.

Seriously, Persona 3 and 4 were my gateway drug to the Shin Megami Tensei titles. I am looking forward to the next Persona and their move to beefier consoles like the PS3 and 360.

I will hope for a  teaser trailer at least at E3. Thanks to GB, Atlus has pretty much become my favorite video company. Previously held by early 2000 Konami.

cool but knowing how they work this will probable be another PSP game or a remake of a old one

" cool but knowing how they work this will probable be another PSP game or a remake of a old one "

" @Toxic said:

" cool but knowing how they work this will probable be another PSP game or a remake of a old one "

 Well, a Persona 2 remake could be pretty awesome on a PS3... "

Fuck yeah.
 
Took you long enough Atlus!

Should be in the Persona forums, not Persona 4.

Well at least we'll have a Deadly Premonition ER while we wait for the inevitable Persona 5 ER.

About fucking time. I hope they make the town fully explorable and devoid of loading screen. This needs to be the GTA4 of JRPGs.

" @AuthenticM:   Persona really doesn't seem like something that'd benefit from an open world.... "

I actually started playing through Persona 4 myself on Saturday (after watching the Endurance Run last year) and its awesome and I'm surprised at how much I like the battle system.  Might pick up P3:FES at some point before P5 is released here in the UK.

" @metalsnakezero:  I don't know where you get your sources but here is the true sequel here...
 
 

"

Awesome, can't wait for it, although I guess it's gonna take forever to come out here in Europe :(
 
Man I hope that this is on the PS3, I would be pissed off if was for the Wii

I am really excited for this, some of the best news I have heard in awhile.

I just hope they make a non silent protaginst this time.....
 
(yeah, I know, not gonna happen sadly....)

" @AuthenticM:  Not really.  The events that made the Persona 3 and Persona 4 experience were all set pieces, and that's really how it should stay.  The game doesn't attempt to give you some sort of world to explore, it gives you a set of scenarios for you to experience. "

Hell yes! I just hope atlus decides to bring it to the 360. Otherwise I'll just have to buy a PS3 just for this.

How likely will it be that the game will make the jump to current-gen consoles?

" About fucking time. I hope they make the town fully explorable and devoid of loading screen. This needs to be the GTA4 of JRPGs. "

i can't wait for it but its going to come out in japan first so i would love if they just put in English text as an option.

"Awesome, can't wait for it, although I guess it's gonna take forever to come out here in Europe :(  Man I hope that this is on the PS3, I would be pissed off if was for the Wii "

" I would be pissed off if was for the Wii "

Aha!  Is this our chance?

" @Turambar said:

" @AuthenticM:  Not really.  The events that made the Persona 3 and Persona 4 experience were all set pieces, and that's really how it should stay.  The game doesn't attempt to give you some sort of world to explore, it gives you a set of scenarios for you to experience. "

What exactly is that everybody likes Persona? I say it's the world, its characters and the interactions inbetween. Not "set pieces". The S-Links is what defines Persona as we know it. If this aspect can be enhanced in any way, such as getting rid of loading screens and making all the locations feel that much more connected and relevant to each other, I say the experience would be that much stronger. What I want from a Persona is a town in which I can run about, talk to people and connect to people. I want to be there. As far as I know, there aren't any "set pieces" in JRPGs. It's a genre that is quite relaxed and has the player taking his time. Immersion is the key word. "

" @AuthenticM: I just don't want to run around everywhere like I had to do in Persona 3.  Already, you took a train in Persona 3 to go to places, even though there was no quick travel.  But would you really want to run around everywhere ala GTA without even having the equivalent of a car and having a train be that sort of GTA taxi?  Personally, if they want to go that open-world route, the world better be much more engaging than just being able to talk to people.  I want to see events and unique things when I'm walking around all the freaking time.  I don't want it to feel mundane. "

I hope we get some Persona 4 cameos. Naoto could make an appearance, being a travelling private detective and all.

We don't need cameos. Give us an all-new cast, plz.

" I'm really hoping that they will make this game for the Ps2... because I refuse to buy a Ps3 for anything. "

" @honey_power said:

" I'm really hoping that they will make this game for the Ps2... because I refuse to buy a Ps3 for anything. "

Why would you limit the potential of the game for everyone else just because you don't have money? "

" @TheChaos said:

" @honey_power said:

" I'm really hoping that they will make this game for the Ps2... because I refuse to buy a Ps3 for anything. "

Why would you limit the potential of the game for everyone else just because you don't have money? "

Yeah, that's a really selfish line of thinking.  I don't have a PS3, but I'd buy it one a heartbeat for Persona 5. "