Atlus producer Kazushi Wada reiterates the unlikelihood of Persona 3 Portable's female protagonist (FeMC), Kotone Shiomi/Minako Arisato, appearing in Persona 3 Reload. The decision, according to Wada, stems from significant development costs and time constraints.
Wada, in a recent interview with PC Gamer, clarified that while initially considered, including the FeMC—even as post-launch DLC—proved impractical. The resources required would have been far beyond what was feasible, especially considering the concurrent development of the Episode Aigis - The Answer DLC. This echoes previous statements made to Famitsu, emphasizing the prohibitive development time and cost, exceeding that of the Aigis DLC by a considerable margin.
The omission of the popular FeMC from the February 2024 released Persona 3 Reload remake has disappointed many fans. Despite the considerable demand, Wada's comments effectively close the door on future inclusion, leaving the possibility firmly in the realm of "unlikely to ever happen."
While many anticipated the FeMC's presence, either at launch or as DLC, the reality of the development challenges has proven insurmountable, according to Atlus.