Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis DLC to release exclusively as part of game’s Expansion Pass

Posted on March 14, 2024

Episode Aigis – The Answer, Persona 3’s epilogue chapter originally exclusive to Persona 3: FES back on PS2, is confirmed to be coming to Persona 3 Reload as DLC later this year. In classic Persona tradition of Atlus being really weird about how additional content is provided, however, you cannot buy it separately and must buy the game’s Expansion Pass, currently priced at $52.95 AUD, if you want to access it.

Episode Aigis was originally a playable epilogue to Persona 3, set after the events of the main game. In this chapter, the player controls the team’s robot companion Aigis directly as she deals with the ramifications of the main game’s ending. This chapter was only available as part of the expanded version of Persona 3, called Persona 3 FES, which released in the West on PS2 in 2008. Subsequent re-releases of Persona 3, such as Persona 3 Portable and Persona 3 Reload, didn’t have this chapter, making it something of a surprise that it is being released, albeit as DLC.

Unfortunately, if you want to play this chapter, be prepared to reach deep into your wallets, as the expansion pass costs nearly half the price of the entire base game. While it is preferable to Atlus’ usual strategy of bundling new content into a whole new version of the game players must buy separately, it is still exclusive to an Expansion Pass which, aside from Episode Aigis, mostly contains cosmetic options such as costumes and music from other games in the series. An Atlus representative has confirmed to Push Square that “the three parts of the Expansion Pass will not be available separately, and only available as part of the full pass“. No news of if the Persona 3 Portable-exclusive female protagonist story content will be released, but it seems unlikely at this point.

According to an interview with Famitsu, series producer Kazuhisa Wada advised that the chapter was originally planned to be part of the main game of Persona 3 Reload. This was dropped during development “due to various circumstances“. However, the game’s announcement in June 2023 led to a surge of fan requests for the episode to be remastered and incorporated into Persona 3 Reload. “After finally announcing the existence of the work Persona 3 Reload to the world, we received a lot of feedback from fans asking for a follow-up story“, Wada stated. “It was very reassuring for those of us who had the same feelings, and to be honest, having everyone’s support gave us the most strength to make it happen.”

This interview does at least explain why the episode is DLC. That said, it doesn’t explain why it is exclusive to an Expansion Pass containing content players might not want. At any rate, Episode Aigis – The Answer – will be releasing in September of this year available exclusively for Persona 3 Reload Expansion Pass owners.