Atlus’ Naoto Hiraoka on Joker in Smash Bros. Ultimate, quiet on Persona 5 for Switch, Shin Megami Tensei V still in the works
Back in January, Taiwan gaming website Bahamut conducted an interview with Atlus’ Naoto Hiraoka. That discussion was now published online today.
During the interview, Hiraoka was asked about Joker appearing in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the possibility of Persona 5 for Switch, and the latest on Shin Megami Tensei V. You can find a rough translation of his comments below.
Persona 5’s Joker have been announced to join the roster in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, so what’s the opportunity to contribute Joker’s addition to the roster? And what do you looking forward to Joker’s addition (to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate)?
Hiraoka: Joker joining the roster in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is mainly due to invitation from Masahiro Sakurai (Sora Ltd.), and thus contributed the collaboration. Because Mr. Sakurai likes Persona 5 very much, and I happened to like Super Smash Bros. very much. So, when (we) received the invitation, the first thing we thought is “Great!”, and we are very happy to build mutual corporation.
As Persona 5 is not published on a Nintendo platform, but the character joined the roster in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate first, does this also means Persona 5 Series will have something to do on Nintendo platform?
Hiraoka: On this point, we have no concrete answer, but in my point of view, Nintendo Switch is a very charismatic console.
It’s 2 years from the first announcement of Shin Megami Tensei V, but there’s no further information released, I wonder what’s the development progress? Will (it) expends to other platforms besides Nintendo Switch?
Hiraoka: Shin Megami Tensei V is still in development, but as it’s the first time ATLUS challenge of developing games on Nintendo Switch, so there’s many approaches. And the way to present the works is our challenge from now on, please patiently wait for upcoming information.
Thanks to Jake for the tip.
