Katsura Hashino has been the Persona director and producer for a number of titles in the series now. With over a decade at the helm and soaring success behind his work, fans may be disappointed to discover he is officially headed on his way out. After Persona 5 became an international hit, Hashino penned a letter to fans and passed the torch.

Last year, with the milestone of the Persona series’ 20th anniversary, I handed off the series development to my successors and announced the start of my new RPG project that takes place in a fantasy world.”

The next step for the Persona director should be clear to those that follow hus work. Hashino’s Studio Zero and team Atlus will continue to launch Project Re Fantasy. It would seem he intends to devote himself completely to his latest project.

It is said that Project Re Fantasy will be a departure from what has come out of P-Studio, the team working on the Persona games. With that in mind, it may not be such a surprise that the Persona director has decided to move on. At least the tension of not knowing whether or not Hashino would do another Persona game has eased. Here’s what he had to say of his departure:

No matter what kind of project I take on going forward, I love creating RPGs that are both moving and relatable regardless of cultural differences—in fact, I’m most interested in strengthening those aspects right now.”

In regards to P-Studio losing the Persona director is of considerable note. After all, it was Hashino who reinvented the franchise, bringing many of the titles defining elements with Persona 3. One thing is for sure, it will be interesting to see what Hashino brings to the table with Project Re Fantasy, and what is next for Persona.

Will a quality game be possible for Persona with Hashino exiting the driver’s seat? Join in on the conversation in the comment section below! Don’t forget to follow DFTG on Twitter for live gaming and entertainment news 24/7!