Persona 1 Remake Footage Reportedly Leaks Online

Almost two minutes of footage that appears to show a remake of the original Persona has leaked online, according to reports from Eurogamer, IGN, GamesRadar+ and Rock Paper Shotgun. Atlus has not announced a Persona 1 remake, and none of the outlets could verify the clip.

The footage seemingly gives the project the subtitle Be Your True Mind. Eurogamer and Rock Paper Shotgun report it was shared on the GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit and had been uploaded to the file-sharing site Gofile on October 31 under a Japanese filename that translates as “Megami Ibunroku Persona Remake”. GamesRadar+ and IGN instead describe it as first posted by a YouTube account named P1REMAKE before spreading to Reddit and X. IGN says that account was created in March 2010 and has posted only two other videos.

According to the reports, the clip shows stylish menus, turn-based combat and a school at night, in a look close to Persona 5 and Persona 3 Reload. Rock Paper Shotgun notes a heavily purple colour scheme, which matches the series’ 25th anniversary artwork. Eurogamer also mentions a short social link scene in an almost graphic novel art style.

Why fans think it may be real

Several details are being cited as evidence of authenticity:

• Debug text: Eurogamer says fans spotted what looks like Unreal Engine debug text during battle. Atlus moved to Unreal Engine for Persona 3 Reload.
• Music: The clip reportedly includes a new remix of the original PlayStation game’s Pandora theme.
• Naming: The protagonist is called “Boy With Earring”, the name used for him in Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.
• Animation: GamesRadar+ and IGN report that Eriko’s summoning animation matches the one used for Yukiko in Persona 4 Revival, which IGN says is due on February 18, 2027.
• Length: Both outlets point out that the clip is longer and more detailed than AI-generated fakes usually are.

The clip also has oddities. Persona 2’s protagonist Tatsuya appears in battle, although he is not in the first game. Rock Paper Shotgun floats a few explanations: a combined project, two remakes in development together, or a placeholder. GamesRadar+ and IGN note speculation that the video is an internal proof-of-concept or pitch for Sega and Atlus management, possibly for remakes of both games.

Why it matters

Atlus has already remade Persona 3 as Persona 3 Reload, released in 2024, and Persona 4 Revival is the next remake on its schedule. IGN reports that series producer Kazuhisa Wada said in August that remakes of the first two games were something “we have to do”, without confirming development. Rock Paper Shotgun quotes him saying they would “probably eventually” happen.

The series has a record of leaks. GamesRadar+ and IGN recall that rough in-development footage of Persona 3 Reload leaked in 2023. IGN adds that images from Persona 6 leaked in June and a Steam leak in September seemingly exposed a trophy list for that game.

What we don’t know yet

IGN notes that nobody knows when the footage was captured, so it could be recent or years old. Whether it is a real build, a pitch video or an elaborate fake is unresolved. IGN has asked Sega for comment.