In a recent development, the remake of Persona 3, known as Persona 3: Reload, has made a significant change by removing an infamously transphobic scene that appeared in the original 2006 game. The scene in question involved a transphobic exchange between the game’s characters, Akihiko, Junpei, and the protagonist who appears to be a trans women.
This original transphobic Scene featuring Akihiko, Junpei, and the game’s protagonist was first noted by Kotaku.
This scene, which took place during a beach trip, featured the party attempting to pick up girls. After a few unsuccessful attempts, the boys encounter a character referred to as “Beautiful Lady”. The dialogue included a character pointing out stubble on the woman’s chin. The woman turns away and remarks that she “missed a spot,” followed by the game’s character, Junpei exclaiming “She’s a he,” and the party running away in a trans panic.
Table of Contents
Original scene
Dialogues like these, typical of early 2000s media, are discomforting. They’ve never been amusing, and in 2024, modern audiences certainly wouldn’t welcome such scenes. It’s understandable why Atlus, the developer, has opted to revise these scenes for the Reload re-release.
Notably, the dialogue has been retooled entirely, with the end result being the same – the party running away from the woman – but without the transphobic elements present in the original version.
The revised version
In the revised version, the woman on the beach is portrayed as a conspiracy theorist. According to reports, this characterization is present in both the original Japanese dialogue and the English dub. She asserts that the sun was replaced in the 1980s and demands 300,000 yen for special sunscreen that supposedly blocks the new sun’s rays. In response, Junpei, Akihiko, and the protagonist hastily make their escape.
Well, it seems like Atlus chose to avoid controversy and opted for the safest, simplest solution. While there are arguments from the fans who believe that removing the dialogue in entirety was needed and the dialogue could have been reinterpreted in a more positive light. But, nonetheless this change is a positive step in removing mean-spirited and offensive content from the game, reflecting a more inclusive and respectful approach to character portrayal.
