Atlus 2025 Online Consumer Survey Released, Includes Question for Persona Spin-Off Genres

By
Reggy
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Atlus has released their annual Japanese online consumer survey for 2025 to learn more about their customers and improve their game development. This year marks the tenth annual Japanese survey, and with that, Atlus has streamlined the questions to make it a faster, simpler one.

Like last year, there’s an English version of the survey available targeted at Americans.

Every year, the survey contributes meaningfully to development at Atlus, with the company stating that the results “assist us in delivering unique and compelling gaming experiences, as we continue to pursue development that values passion and ambition.”

The survey duration is estimated to take approximately 35 minutes. The survey timeframe is from August 8th to August 17th.

The questions from the survey can be seen below. For questions that I feel are especially interesting and should be highlighted, see Questions 20, 21, 44, 50, and 51.

Previous Surveys

Q3: Please tell us your age.

Q4: Please select your gender.

Q5: Do you live in the US?

Q6: How did you first find out about this survey? Select the answer that best applies.

7 options, including the official website for Atlus series games, a video posted to YouTube by Atlus, X (Twitter), etc.

Q7: Please tell us about your profession.

12 options with different types of employment including part-time, self-employed, etc.

Q8: Please select the family and friends you live with. Select the answer that best applies.

9 options for different household arrangements.

Q9: Please indicate how much free time you have on average on a work or school day, and on a day off or holiday.

Q10: Please indicate the average amount of money you can spend freely each month.

8 answers, ranging from less than $50 to $1,000 or more.

Q11: Please select all of the following game devices that you own.

8 options with all modern consoles.

Q12: When did you most recently play video games on the following devices / platforms that you own?

Q13: On work or school days and on days off or holidays, how much of your free time can you spend playing video games?

Q14: On average, how many hours per day do you play video games on the following devices / platforms on a work or school day?

Q15: On average, how many hours per day do you play video games on the following devices / platforms on a day off or holiday?

Q16: Do you play games on the following PC services? If yes, please indicate when you last used it.

The services are:

  1. Xbox Game Pass (PC)
  2. Xbox Game Pass (Ultimate)
  3. Steam
  4. Epic Games
  5. Other

[EA Play and Ubisoft+ have been removed as options]

Q17: Please select all game genres you like to play.

20 different options:

  1. 3D dungeon crawler RPG
  2. Fighting
  3. Real-Time Strategy
  4. Action RPG
  5. MMORPG
  6. Turn-Based RPG
  7. Life simulation
  8. Action / Adventure
  9. Party
  10. Card Games
  11. Open World Survival
  12. Turn-based Strategy
  13. FPS / TPS
  14. Turn-based simulation RPG
  15. Rhythm / Music
  16. Text-based Adventure / Visual Novel
  17. Puzzle
  18. Roguelike RPG
  19. MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)
  20. Other

Q18: Please select all the video games that you know from the following.

49 different games, most being Atlus (and Sega) games, with others being notable titles:

  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
  • Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
  • Black Myth: Wukong
  • Elden Ring Nightreign
  • Grand Theft Auto VI
  • Helldivers 2
  • Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
  • Pokemon Legends: Z-A
  • Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
  • Monster Hunter Wilds
  • Palworld

Q19: Have you purchased the following video games?

Selected among the released titles answered in Q18.

Q20: Do you play the “Persona 5: The Phantom X” game for PC / smartphone?

  1. I play it, and I also make in-game purchases
  2. I play it, but I don’t make in-game purchases
  3. I don’t play it currently, but I’m thinking about playing it in the future
  4. I used to play it, but I don’t anymore
  5. I don’t play it currently, and I don’t plan to play it in the future

Q21: The following video is of “Persona 4 Revival,” which is planned for future release on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Windows, and Steam. Please tell us whether you think you’ll want to purchase this game.

  1. Definitely will purchase
  2. Probably will purchase
  3. Not sure / Undecided
  4. Probably won’t purchase
  5. Don’t want to purchase

Q22: How frequently do you purchase video games (both physical and digital)?

7 options, ranging from twice a month to once a year.

Q23: About how much do you spend per month on game titles and DLC?

9 answers, with ranges including less than $9 to $,1000 or more.

Q24: Do you purchase more physical editions or digital versions of games?

4 choices between:

  1. I buy only (or mostly) physical editions
  2. I tend to buy more physical editions
  3. I tend to buy more digital versions
  4. I buy only (or mostly) digital versions

Q25: How many game titles do you own on Steam?

  1. Between 1 – 5
  2. Between 6 – 10
  3. Between 11 – 30
  4. Between 31 – 50
  5. Between 51 – 99
  6. 100 or more

Q26: Where do you usually get information about video games?

19 possible answers, including:

  • X (Twitter)
  • Steam
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • TikTok
  • Discord
  • Official game manufacturer websites
  • Game information event (Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show, etc.)

Q27: This question is for those who answered that they obtain information about games from YouTube. From what kinds of YouTube videos/features do you obtain game information?

  1. Information announcement videos by game console manufacturers (Nintendo Direct, State of Play, Xbox Games Showcase, etc.)
  2. Videos posted by game developers or the games’ official accounts (including archived videos)
  3. Videos posted by game streamers or other individuals (including archived videos)
  4. Watching game developer’s / title’s official livestreams in real-time
  5. Watching game streamer’s / people’s livestreams in real-time
  6. Shorts (vertical videos) posted by game developers’ official accounts
  7. Shorts (vertical videos) posted by game streamers or other individuals
  8. Post on the Community tab of game developer’s official accounts
  9. Posts on the Community tab of game streamers’ or other individuals’ accounts

Q28: Have you heard of the “SEGA Account,” a unified account that lets you play SEGA / Atlus games more easily? [NEW QUESTION]

Q29: To what extent do you play game demos? [NEW QUESTION]

Q30: What aspects of game demos do you find valuable? [NEW QUESTION]

12 options:

  1. Being able to play for a long time (10 hours or more)
  2. Balanced playtime (about 5-10 hours)
  3. Experiencing the appeal of the game in a short amount of time (about 5 hours or less)
  4. Ability to carry over save data to the full game
  5. Being able to get a feel for the gameplay and controls
  6. Understanding the game mechanics
  7. Being able to experience the story and world
  8. Hearing the music
  9. Receiving exclusive items or bonuses from the demo
  10. Checking whether the game runs on my system
  11. Getting to try the game before release
  12. Other

Q31: When purchasing a multiplatform game, do you refer to game reviews published in the following media? If yes, please select among the following

  1. Steam
  2. Game media (IGN, etc.)
  3. Metascore
  4. Review videos from YouTubers and others.
  5. Amazon
  6. Other.
  7. I don’t refer to or watch reviews.

Q32: Please select everything you’d want to see in a trailer video or other advertising footage.

9 options:

  1. Presentations by the voice actors.
  2. Presentations by the developers.
  3. Cutscenes using 2D animation
  4. Cutscenes using 3D computer graphics
  5. Actual gameplay footage that makes you feel like you’re actually playing the game
  6. Actual gameplay footage showcasing combat/action, etc. from the game
  7. Actual gameplay footage that allows you to understand the story
  8. Other
  9. There’s nothing in particular I’d want to see

Q33: Please select all the qualities you look for in an official live stream introducing the game.

9 options:

  1. Entertainment content related to the game.
  2. Actual gameplay.
  3. Presentation by VTubers.
  4. Presentation by voice actors.
  5. Presentation by the developers.
  6. Presentation by game commentators.
  7. Unveiling of unpublished trailers/promotional videos.
  8. Other
  9. There’s nothing in particular I’d want to see

Q34: What is your ideal period of time for watching livestreams related to games? [NEW QUESTION]

Q35: When you watch livestreams related to games, do you tend to watch them in real time or as recordings later? [NEW QUESTION]

Q36: Please select all of the online game events listed below that you’ve watched in the past year.

  1. Summer Game Fest
  2. State of Play
  3. Xbox Games Showcase
  4. Milan Games Week
  5. Tokyo Game Show
  6. EVO
  7. Gamescom
  8. The Game Awards
  9. Nintendo Direct
  10. None of the events above

Q37: Please select the option that best reflects your attitute toward attending in-person events. [NEW QUESTION]

Q38: Please select what you’d expect from in-person events. [NEW QUESTION]

  1. Life-size figures and other exhibit items
  2. Exhibitions of illustrations and materials
  3. Surprise announcements of new content or updates
  4. Live music performances
  5. Test-playing games
  6. Stage events with voice actors
  7. Stage events with developers
  8. Distribution of promotional merchandise
  9. Merchandise sales
  10. Original food and drinks
  11. Other

Q39: Have you ever played games from the “Persona” series before? If you have, choose the first game in the series that you ever played.

30 options, listing every single Persona console game released from Revelations: Persona for the PlayStation and Windows in September 1996 to Persona 5: The Phantom X in June 2025 (with the 31st option being “never played the Persona series”).

Q40: What was the most recent “Persona” series game you played? [NEW QUESTION]

24 options, omitting a lot of the older titles before Persona 3 in 2007.

Q41: Have you ever played games from the “Shin Megami Tensei” series before? If you have, choose the first game in the series that you ever played.

85 options listing every single Shin Megami Tensei game released from Digital Devil Story Megami Tensei for the Famicom in September 1987 to Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army released in June 2025.

Q42: What was the most recent “Shin Megami Tensei” series game you played? [NEW QUESTION]

Q43: We will now ask about the Atlus games you have purchased/played. For each of the statements below, please indicate which is closes to your opinions, after playing the following Atlus games.

For the two recent Atlus titles, Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis -The Answer- (additional DLC) and Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, there are 7 rows/options with 4 columns based on how strongly or lacking someone felt about the answers. They are:

  1. The characters were appealing / The characters didn’t seem appealing
  2. The story was interesting / The story wasn’t interesting (or didn’t leave an impression)
  3. The game mechanics were enjoyable / The game mechanics were not enjoyable
  4. The controls were responsive, and I could play comfortably / The controls were not responsive, and I couldn’t play comfortably
  5. The music was good (or left an impression) / The music was not good (or didn’t leave an impression)
  6. The playtime was adequate / The playtime was inadequate
  7. The price was appropriate for how satisfying the game was / The price was not appropriate for the level of satisfaction I got from the game

Q44: When did you become a fan of Atlus games? [NEW QUESTION]

The years range from 1990 to 2025, with the two additional options being “I don’t remember when I became a fan” and “I don’t consider myself a fan of Atlus games.” The question is preceded by the following timeline.

Q45: How long do you expect the total play time is to complete games at these price ranges?

There are 8 ranges, from “games with a standard retail price between” $0.01 and $9.99 to $70 or more. Each has selectable ranges from “less than 5 hours” to “50 hours or more.”

Q46: For digital versions of Atlus games, have you ever purchased the “Digital Deluxe Edition,” different from the regular version?

For the Persona series and for Atlus x Vanillaware titles, the option is “yes” or “no.”

[Etrian Odyssey and Shin Megami Tensei removed from this question compared to last year]

Q47: When large-scale additional content is added for a game you like, how desirable are the following methods of release?

The options are “Releasing additional DLC that enhances the main story experience, such as implementing additional stories and characters,” and “Launch of a completely new SKU that enhances the main story experience, such as implementing additional stories and characters.”

Each with 3 choices of “Always Desirable, “Desirable in some cases,” and “Always Undesirable.”

Q47.A: To those who answered that the large-scale additional content would be “desirable in some cases” for the completely new packaged version, what do you think would be needed to always feel like the release is worth it?

  1. It’s more convenient than purchasing the original version and large-scale DLC separately.
  2. Owning all versions of my favorite games.
  3. It enhances the enjoyment and satisfaction of the original version.
  4. I can play it on hardware with higher specifications than the original version.
  5. It is cheaper than the original version.
  6. Other.
  7. None of the above.

Q48: Please select all the things you expect from Atlus titles and that make it feel like an Atlus title.

17 choices:

  1. Characters with appealing personalities who are easy to become emotionally invested in
  2. World setting with an underground / subculture feeling
  3. Music worth listening to.
  4. World setting with a strong occult feeling.
  5. Fictional world settings that are easy to become emotionally invested in
  6. A world setting in modern Japan.
  7. Good design of non-human characters, such as the demons
  8. Interesting / deep stories
  9. Good design of things other than characters, such as user interface.
  10. User interface that emphasizes comfort and tempo.
  11. A world setting that feels anarchistic / going against common tropes
  12. Challenging difficulty / game balance
  13. Good character designs
  14. Gameplay experience / themes that you think about even when not playing the game.
  15. Other
  16. There is no particular application.
  17. I don’t know of Atlus / I’m not sure

Q49: If a new game or sequel came out for the following series, what platform would you want to play it on?

The series included are:

  1. Atlus x Vanillware games
  2. Metaphor: ReFantazio
  3. Persona series
  4. Etrian Odyssey series
  5. Shin Megami Tensei series
  6. Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army

With the following platforms as options:

11 possible choices:

  1. I want to play this on PS4 / PS4 Pro.
  2. I want to play this on PS5.
  3. I want to play this on Nintendo Switch (Lite).
  4. I want to play this on Nintendo Switch 2.
  5. I want to play this on a smartphone (free-to-play)
  6. I want to play this on a smartphone (single purchase)
  7. I want to play this on Xbox.
  8. I want to play this on PC.
  9. Other
  10. I do not want to play this / I’m not interested.

Q50: Which of the following game genres and mechanics would you be interested in trying out with the world and characters of existing games in the “Persona” series? (Select all that apply) [NEW QUESTION]

The following mainline Persona titles are listed:

  • Revelations: Persona
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2: Innocent Sin
  • Persona 3
  • Persona 4
  • Persona 5

And each of them have the following selectable options:

  1. Action-adventure
  2. Musou/Warrior-style action RPG (e.g., Dynasty Warriors-type)
  3. Dating sim/Romance simulation
  4. Souls-like
  5. Online multiplayer
  6. Rogue-like
  7. Life simulation
  8. Fighting games
  9. Metroidvania
  10. Simulation RPG
  11. I don’t want to try out any of these genres/mechanics

[The spin-offs that have already been made for respective Persona games are taken into account, with P4 not having the “Fighting games” option or “Persona 5” not having the “Musou” option.]

Q51: Please select any other types of media adaptations you’d be interested in for the following series/games. (Select all that apply) [NEW QUESTION]

The following Atlus franchises are listed:

  • Persona series
  • Shin Megami Tensei series
  • Metaphor: ReFantazio
  • Atlus x Vanillaware games

And each of them have the following selectable options:

  1. Manga adaptations
  2. Live-action TV series/movie
  3. Novelizations
  4. Theater plays
  5. Trading card games
  6. Merchandising
  7. Live music performances
  8. TV anime series
  9. Collaborations with retail venues or commercial events
  10. Audio dramas
  11. Anime movies
  12. None of these

Q52: What is your current status regarding the purchase of the Nintendo Switch 2 [NEW QUESTION]

4 options:

  1. I have already purchased one
  2. I haven’t purchased one yet, but I plan to
  3. I have no plans to purchase one
  4. I haven’t decided whether I’ll purchase one yet / I don’t know

Q53: Please provide any requests or comments that you have for Atlus. (Free input / No character limit)