Atlus Discusses the Possibility of Japanese Voices in the English Version of Persona 5

John Hardin, press relations manager for Atlus USA and Sega of America, addressed the topic of including Japanese audio in the upcoming North American release of Persona 5. In a series of statements, Hardin advised fans to manage their expectations, confirming that the game would launch exclusively with an English voice track while the company explores other options post-release.

English Dub is the Priority

Hardin stated that Atlus is “throwing everything” into the quality of the English dub, making it the central focus of the localization effort. He was clear that fans should expect the game to be “100% in English” when it arrives in North America. This approach aligns with the company’s historical handling of the series, ensuring a complete and polished English-language experience from day one. The publisher’s commitment is aimed at delivering a high-quality localization, but it means that players waiting for the original Japanese voice performances will not have that option available at launch.

The Challenge of Dual Audio DLC

While confirming the English-only launch, Hardin also revealed that he was actively investigating the possibility of adding the Japanese voices via a downloadable content pack. He tempered this news with a significant note of caution, describing the effort as a “monumentally massive task.”

The difficulties in adding a second language track post-launch can be numerous. The process often involves complex and potentially expensive licensing negotiations with the original Japanese voice talent for distribution in a new territory. Beyond legal and financial hurdles, there are technical challenges. Integrating a full second audio track into a massive role-playing game requires significant development and quality assurance resources to implement and test. The file size of such a DLC would also be substantial. Hardin expressed his hope that a solution could be found but reiterated that nothing was confirmed beyond the English dub for the release date.

A History of English-Only Releases

The discussion around dual audio for Persona 5 is notable given the series’ history in the West. Previous major installments, including Persona 3 and Persona 4, were released in North America with only English voiceovers. The lack of a dual audio option has been a frequent point of feedback from a segment of the series’ dedicated fanbase. The public acknowledgment of an investigation into a Japanese VO pack for Persona 5 signaled a potential shift in Atlus’s approach, likely driven by this long-standing community demand for the feature.

Persona 5 was scheduled to be released in Japan on September 15, 2016. The North American launch was set for several months later, on February 14, 2017. The game was developed as a cross-generational title for both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3.