The recently discovered pre-release Persona 5 beta features character models from Persona 4, including a grown up version of Nanako.
Twitter user REALMadMax1960 has shared that Atlus had originally planned on featuring adult versions of Persona 4 characters in Persona 5 in some capacity, as grown up character models for Nanako and others have been discovered in the beta files.
It appears that these Persona 4 character models were created very early in Persona 5’s development cycle, when it was planned for the game’s protagonists to be traveling the world, presumably including a trip to Inaba.
Previously, YouTuber ScrambledFaz shared on Twitter/X that someone had dumped an early beta version of Persona 5, dating half a year before the Japanese release, on the internet. It contains early versions of songs and character models, such as the aforementioned Persona 4 character models. The leaked beta build of Persona 5 includes early versions of songs from the game, including “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There“, “Last Surprise“, and “Rivers in the Desert“. The Twitter/X user mentioned that there was more to share, but they decided not to in order to avoid potential legal consequences.
Meanwhile, Twitter/X user Maple___s2 pointed out that the individual who leaked the beta version of Persona 5 mentioned on Discord that they got a hold of this build from 20 or so discs that were allegedly sold in a private auction. However, as per the leaker, most of the discs were too damaged to be shared online.
Persona 5 is the sixth installment in the Persona series, a sub-series of the Megami Tensei franchise. Developed by Atlus’ P-Studio and released on various platforms between 2016 and 2022, the game is set in modern-day Tokyo and follows a high school student with the pseudonym Joker. As a member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, Joker and fellow students wield their Personas—physical manifestations of their psyche—to battle malevolent forces within a supernatural realm called the Metaverse. The story, which focuses on themes of attaining freedom from modern society’s limitations, draws inspiration from picaresque fiction and rebellious literary characters.
