After Months of Anticipation, Persona 5: The Phantom X (P5X) Finally Launches Globally and Immediately Gains Momentum with Other Games on Steam
Although it is just a free spin-off, the game has outperformed expectations in the early hours of its release, standing tall alongside Persona 5 Royal on this platform.
P5X’s Limited Release Still Attracts Global Attention in the Gaming Community
Set against the familiar backdrop of Tokyo, the game invites players to step into the shoes of a completely new protagonist, joined by a diverse cast of characters—new Phantom Thieves ready to dive into the psychological realms to “steal hearts” and change destinies. Unlike its predecessor, Persona 5: The Phantom X abandons the traditional daily time management system typical of the main series, replacing it with a more energy-consumption-based model for common activities—similar to popular gacha games like Genshin Impact.
However, core elements such as dungeons, Mementos, social links, and typical activities like studying, participating in clubs, and more remain intact. Additionally, the gameplay introduces a new mode called Velvet Trials, along with a Phantom Idols system, allowing players to recruit unique versions of beloved characters to aid in battles. You will take on the role of a character named “Wonder,” leading a new group of Phantom Thieves. Along with this new protagonist, players can also encounter familiar faces from Persona 5 such as Joker, Morgana, Ryuji, and Ann through the gacha system. The combination of strategic combat and a free-to-play model has quickly drawn a large player base immediately upon launch.
According to data from SteamDB, just hours after its release on June 26, Persona 5: The Phantom X surpassed the concurrent player count of Persona 5 Royal—making it one of the most notable JRPGs on PC. With over 40,000 players online simultaneously, P5X achieved remarkable success on Steam as of the current timeframe. Although this may be attributed partly to its free-to-play model and the fact that P5R was only recently made available on Steam after years of being on consoles, the rapid rise of P5X remains a noteworthy phenomenon.
