A leak has revealed that Microsoft’s subscription service Xbox Game Pass will receive more games from Atlus, including multiple mainline installments from the Shin Megami Tensei (SMT) franchise in the upcoming spring.
Previously, the tech giant and the Japanese developer reached a new expansive publishing agreement in late 2022. Around the same time, rumors surfaced that the classic SMT would become available on Xbox.
The mainline SMT series — SMT III: Nocturne (also known as Lucifer’s Call in Europe), SMT IV Apocalypse (Final in Japan) and SMT V — have encountered availability issues as they were initially exclusive to a single console upon release.
Nocturne, SMT IV/A and SMT V are exclusive to PlayStation 2, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch, respectively. Therefore, those who do not own all of these consoles cannot play at least one of the games.
Before this, Atlus had already made Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal available on Xbox Game Pass. Its multiplatform RPG Soul Hackers 2 was included in the Ultimate tier of the service on February 28.
4chan leaks
Leaks shared on 4chan on March 18 suggest that Xbox Game Pass will soon expand its catalog to include SMT III, SMT IV, SMT IV Apocalypse and SMT V in the spring.
The SMT IV leaked screenshot differs significantly from the game’s initial look on the dual-screen Nintendo 3DS platform. The screenshot showcases a redesigned user interface in a widescreen aspect ratio not seen before in the series.
The leaked image also displays promotional material featuring SMT IV, SMT IV/A and SMT V, with platform logos in the bottom right corner — including the logos of Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Windows and Steam.
The only new information from this leak was about SMT IV/A since a report in December said that the other three SMT games would be added to Xbox Game Pass.
According to the anonymous poster who leaked the alleged promotional materials, the official confirmation will be on May 6.
Yet, the absence of the PlayStation logo in the leaked image raises doubts about the rumor’s validity. Atlus has never developed a multiplatform game that does not include Sony’s platforms.
Shin Megami Tensei concert
Recently, Atlus revealed an SMT 30th anniversary event in Yokohama, Japan, for two days, starting May 5. It also announced that a commemorating anniversary concert would be performed on July 1 at The NOVO in Los Angeles, California, as part of Anime Expo 2023.
Titled the Band of Shadows Concert, this will be the first SMT concert ever held in the United States. A teaser for the show was posted, offering audiences a taste of what to expect.
Although Atlus has confirmed that tickets to the Band of Shadows Concert would not be available for free, the company hasn’t disclosed the pricing.
The developer has promised to notify SMT’s email subscribers of the on-sale date for Anime Expo 2023 passes, allowing those who want to attend the convention before July 1 to acquire their tickets in advance.
The show will start at 8 p.m., but doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The concert is estimated to last two and a half hours, wrapping up around 10:30 p.m.
Atlus has already hosted other concerts based on the music from their games. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Persona game series, the creators arranged a concert last year that featured songs from the games’ soundtracks.
The performance, streamed online so fans could watch virtually, culminated in a yearlong celebration.
