I’m a huge fan of both the Pokemon and Persona series, and it’s exciting that they’ll both be celebrating their 30th anniversaries in 2026! I’ve loved Pokemon since the very beginning, and it really shaped my taste in games. While I’ve always been a Pokemon fan, I discovered Persona more recently. I started playing the series with Persona 5 in 2017 and immediately enjoyed it – it felt like a more grown-up version of the creature-collecting I loved in Pokemon. Since then, I’ve played every new Persona game and gone back to experience the older classics as well.
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how huge both the Persona and Pokemon series have become over the last 30 years – they’ve definitely changed a lot since they first came out! I’m really excited for 2026 when they both celebrate their 30th anniversaries, and I’m guessing both Atlus and The Pokemon Company have big plans. But honestly, I’m feeling a lot more confident about what Pokemon will reveal. They’re on the verge of launching their 10th generation of games, which is awesome. A brand new mainline Persona game, though? That still feels pretty far off, even with the anniversary coming up.
Pokemon and Persona Both Turn 30 in 2026
| Game | Japanese Release Date | North American Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Revelations: Persona | September 20, 1996 | December 14, 1996 |
| Pokemon Red and Green/Blue | February 27, 1996 | September 28, 1998 |
1996 was a landmark year for Japanese role-playing games, with both the first Pokemon Red and Green and Revelations: Persona launching within months of each other. While Pokemon didn’t reach North America until 1998 (as Pokemon Red and Blue), the original Persona was released in the West shortly after its Japanese release. Despite the two-year wait for Western fans, Pokemon‘s anniversary is still marked on February 27th, typically with a Pokemon Day Direct presentation, and this year is expected to be the same.
The Future of the Pokemon Series in 2026 Seems Bright
Compared to the Persona series, Pokemon has always been very reliable when it comes to releasing information about its games. As a longtime fan, I’ve come to expect a new Pokemon game roughly every year. While Pokemon Legends: Z-A was the first major Pokemon release since Pokemon Scarlet and Violet in 2022, the series has generally kept to this schedule for almost ten years. Because of this, I’m pretty sure we’ll see a Pokemon Direct presentation in February, revealing details about the next generation of Pokemon games, which will probably come out later in the year.
Image via The Pokemon Company Pokemon Gen 10 Leaks Reveal Wild New Direction for the Series, Likely Releasing in 2026
It feels right that the next generation of Pokemon games, Generation 10, is planned for the series’ 30th anniversary – it’s a big milestone for everyone involved, so The Pokemon Company will probably want to make it special. Last year’s major leak of Pokemon information gave us a peek at what’s in store, potentially games called Pokemon Wind and Waves set in a region inspired by Indonesia. The feature I find most interesting is the idea of islands that are created as you explore – imagine No Man’s Sky, but with islands! This could really change how we explore the Pokemon world after finishing the main story.
While we’re still waiting to hear if Pokémon Generation 10 will arrive in 2026, some exciting new Pokémon games are already planned for next year. Pokémon Pokopia is a unique spin-off where you play as a Ditto, helping other Pokémon create and grow a friendly community in a relaxing life-simulation style. As someone who enjoys competitive Pokémon, I’m particularly looking forward to Pokémon Champions, which is expected to be an official battle simulator available on the Switch, Switch 2, and mobile devices. Both games would be a fresh direction for the series, and if Generation 10 is confirmed, it would make for an incredible 30th anniversary celebration for fans like me.
Pokémon Pokopia will be released on March 5, 2026. While Pokémon Champions is also planned for 2026, a specific release date hasn’t been announced yet.
Persona’s 2026 Plans Are a Wild Card
There are a lot of Persona projects in development, but official details are hard to come by. Unlike Pokemon, the Persona series isn’t very consistent with sharing updates, so it’s tough to know when fans will get news. Sega has said they plan to release Persona content every year, and we’ve already seen Persona 3 Reload and the mobile game Persona 5: The Phantom X in the last two years. However, what’s coming in 2026 is still a mystery, and I’m trying not to get too excited in case things don’t pan out.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Persona has released a special website and a sneak peek at a Personathemed Fitness Boxing* game.
Persona 4 Revival Seems Too Far Off for a 2026 Release
Currently, the only confirmed new Persona game is a remake of Persona 4, called Persona 4 Revival. It was briefly shown during last summer’s Xbox Games Showcase, but the teaser didn’t include much gameplay or a release date. The initial trailer showed a work-in-progress version of the game, indicating it’s still early in development and likely won’t be released until after 2026.
I Don’t Expect to See Persona 6 Anytime Soon
Beyond the recent release of P4R, fans are eagerly awaiting news about Persona 6. It’s been almost ten years since Persona 5 came out, and a sequel still hasn’t been announced. Many expected an reveal during the series’ 25th anniversary in 2021, but it’s looking increasingly likely that 2026 will pass without any news. Over the years, rumors have circulated about Persona 6 – including a story with two main characters and a school for artists – but so far, nothing has been officially confirmed.
With the 30th anniversary of the Persona series approaching, now would be a great time to announce the next game, similar to how a new Pokemon game was timed with its milestone. However, opportunities for a reveal are limited, and it’ll likely happen at either an Xbox event or Summer Game Fest 2026. The longer we wait without news of Persona 6, the more I doubt it will ever come out. So, I’m not expecting Persona 6 in 2026, and if it is announced this year, it’ll be a welcome surprise.
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2026-01-04 05:05