Persona 3 Portable is receiving an unexpected new physical release

Persona 3 Portable is receiving a pleasant surprise with the announcement of multiple physical editions for specific platforms, and pre-orders for these editions are scheduled to start later this week. The release will also feature a collector's edition of this iconic JRPG, and Limited Run Games (LRG), the company known for reviving classic Jurassic Park games, is handling the publication.

Originally released for the PSP in late 2009, Persona 3 Portable made its way to PC and the last two console generations in January, alongside the ports of Persona 4 Golden for the same platforms. Both games were also available on Xbox Game Pass from their respective launch dates.

After eight months, Limited Run Games (LRG) revealed that they will be releasing a physical edition of Persona 3 Portable for the PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. The release will consist of three editions in total. The first is the base game in a standard box, priced at $34.99. The second is the Grimoire Edition, priced at $69.99, which includes a steelbook, a book-shaped box with a slipcover, and the physical copy of the game for the chosen platform.

Additionally, there is the S.E.E.S. Edition priced at $199.99, which includes all the items mentioned earlier. It also includes an S.E.E.S. armband, 11 character trading cards, a 3D shadowbox featuring the all-out attack splash frame from the game, and a school patch. The S.E.E.S. Edition also features a physical version of the RPG's soundtrack and another shadowbox containing a 1:1 replica of the Persona 3 Evoker. Each S.E.E.S. Edition will be shipped with an individually numbered certificate of authenticity, as is customary for such high-value collector's items.

Pre-orders for all three physical editions of Persona 3 Portable will be open from September 29 to November 12. Limited Run Games (LRG) has not provided a specific timeframe for when these orders will start shipping. However, like many other publishers that primarily operate on a pre-order basis, LRG has historically had longer lead times. According to their FAQ page, standard game editions typically take between four and six months to reach customers after the pre-order period ends. Collector's editions, on the other hand, are estimated to have a waiting period of eight to ten months.

Due to the estimated shipping times, the physical release of Persona 3 Portable will not be available to prospective buyers before March 2024, at the earliest. This means that it will be released after the upcoming Persona 3 Reload remake, which is set to launch on February 2, 2024. However, the positive aspect of Limited Run Games' fulfillment approach is that anyone interested in adding Persona 3 Portable to their physical game collection will have the opportunity to do so. The "limited" aspect of this release refers to the pre-order period rather than the available quantities, ensuring that interested individuals will have a chance to acquire it.

Persona 3 Portable is currently available for PC, PS4, PSP, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.