At TGS today, ATLUS had some updates to share regarding their upcoming remake. Namely, they went into depth on the Persona 3 Reload battle system and introduced Strega, a malevolent group that act as antagonists. They also dove into the new scenes we can expect to see from the game.

Related Reading: Persona 3 Reload Release Date Set for Feb. 2, 2024; Character List, Trailer, and DLC Revealed

Here’s the new trailer from the Tokyo Game Show:

We have a detailed breakdown on the combat system from today’s press release:

Persona 3 Reload Battle System

• Turn-Based Combat – Experience a familiar but enhanced turn-based Persona battle system! Hitting an enemy’s weakness will knock it down, allowing you to get a second attack in. Knocking all enemies down will trigger an All-Out-Attack! Aim for the enemies’ weaknesses and make use of multiple strategies to get the edge in battle.
• Attack Affinities – Attacks and Skills all have affinities. Use these strategically to hit the enemies’ weaknesses.​ Hitting an enemy with an affinity that it’s weak to will increase the damage dealt and knock it down. Hitting enemies with critical hits is another way to knock them down.
• All-Out-Attacks – Knocking down an enemy will trigger 1 More, allowing you to attack a second time in the same turn. When all enemies are knocked down, you can perform a flashy All-Out-Attack to deliver massive damage.​ ​Watch out, though—enemies can do the same to you, knocking your party members down by hitting their own weaknesses.
• Persona 5 Features – Features that fans loved in Persona 5 have returned in Persona 3 Reload, such as Direct Command and Assist. Control each of your party members quickly and intuitively with direct commands, and use Assist to automatically target enemy weaknesses. The Baton Pass mechanic from Persona 5 has been brought to Persona 3 Reload as Shift. Strategically Shift your 1 More turn to allies and make quick work of your foes!
• New Skills – A new kind of special skill called Theurgy has been added! These are high-powered abilities that can only be used when a character’s Theurgy gauge is full. The Theurgy gauge charges during battle when a character attacks, uses skills, or performs other actions. Each character’s personality influences what kinds of actions are the most effective at charging the gauge quickly. Pulling off these impressive skills at the right moment can turn the tides of battle!

Persona 3 Reload Additional Scenes

Atlus’ revamp also features some brand new story content to flesh out the world. Here’s what you can expect from those:

• New Episodes – All-new Linked Episodes have been added in Persona 3 Reload!​ Sides of certain characters that have never been explored will be revealed in new story scenes! ​By giving your friends advice or hanging out with them, you can strengthen your bond and discover aspects of them you’ve never seen before. ​Support them enough, and those allies will receive upgrades and unlock new Persona fusions for you. Persona 3 Reload will also have completely new scenes focusing on members of Strega. Look forward to learning more about their past and perspective.

Persona players are especially fond of Persona 3, so this remake’s bound to be a treat to longtime fans. The game can’t come soon enough.

If you’re looking for more Persona content in the meantime, check out the latest updates on Persona 5 Tactica here.

Persona 3 Reload releases on February 2, 2024, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.