Atlus producer Kazushi Wada reiterates the unlikelihood of Persona 3 Portable's popular female protagonist (FeMC), Kotone Shiomi/Minako Arisato, appearing in Persona 3 Reload. This decision, explained in a recent PC Gamer interview, stems from significant development costs and time constraints.

While initially considered, incorporating the FeMC, even as post-launch DLC, proved impractical. The resources required would have been far beyond what was feasible, especially considering the simultaneous development of the Episode Aigis DLC. Wada stated that adding the FeMC would have significantly extended development time and budget, making it unmanageable.

Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the 2006 JRPG, launched this February. The omission of Kotone/Minako disappointed many fans, despite the game's inclusion of other key features. Wada's comments confirm that, despite fan hopes, the addition of the FeMC remains highly improbable. Previous interviews with Famitsu echoed this sentiment, highlighting the substantial development challenges.

The significant cost and time investment needed to add the FeMC, far exceeding that of the Episode Aigis DLC, ultimately made her inclusion unviable. While the FeMC's popularity fueled expectations for her appearance in Persona 3 Reload, Wada's latest statements effectively rule out any future inclusion.