Metaphor: ReFantazio Has One Surprising Thing in Common With P5 Tactica

Metaphor: ReFantazio has been rated Teen by the ESRB, unlike the vast majority of Atlus's contemporary games. Metaphor: ReFantazio will hence have the same classification as some of the company's most age-accessible titles, such as Persona 5 Tactica.

Metaphor: ReFantazio was officially unveiled at the June 2023 Xbox Games Showcase as the first original project from Atlus Creative Department 3rd Production. Also known as Studio Zero, this company branch consisting of Persona series veterans has so far put out just one title, the 2019 Catherine: Full Body, a definitive edition of the 2011 puzzler Catherine. The ESRB and PEGI have attached a Mature and 18 rating to all editions of Catherine, respectively. In light of that background and the information that Atlus has shared so far, many fans were expecting Metaphor: ReFantazio to be another Mature-rated title.

ESRB and PEGI Diverge on Metaphor: ReFantazio's Age Rating

But it turns out that won't be the case, at least as far as the ESRB classification is concerned. As recently spotted by well-known Sega leaker Midori, the Metaphor: ReFantazio website states that the game had already received a Teen rating. That classification stands in stark contrast with most of Atlus's recent releases; since 2019, the Japanese studio has made just two other Teen-rated games, Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore and the critically acclaimed Persona 5 Tactica. At the same time, the game received a PEGI 16 rating, which is on par with the vast majority of other modern Atlus games.

The ESRB and PEGI have historically mostly been in agreement when it comes to rating Atlus games. The cause of this unusual classification mismatch is currently unclear. Although the European organization normally publishes brief product descriptions that help explain its rating decisions, the upcoming RPG has yet to appear in its game database. Metaphor: ReFantazio's political themes, character designs, and lore tidbits that Atlus has shared to date have all pointed to this being another M-rated game.

Recent Atlus Games Age Rating History

Metaphor: ReFantazio does appear to have fewer depictions of realistic violence than a typical Persona entry, which might have contributed to its lower age rating, as the ESRB may have decided that its largely fantasy violence would be less impactful on younger audiences. At the same time, the PEGI system adheres to similar criteria, but has still yielded a classification consistent with the European organization's recent Atlus ratings.

PEGI may shed more light on this rating difference once its Metaphor: ReFantazio page goes live. Based on the organization's track record, that isn't likely to happen before Atlus announces the RPG's release date. Assuming no delays take place, the wait for its concrete availability information should be over in a matter of months, as Metaphor: ReFantazio is currently targeting a late 2024 launch.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Display card tags widget Display card system widget

Display card community and brand rating widget

10 /10

Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget

Released

October 11, 2024

Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

• 
• 
• 

Where to play

Close

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION

• 

DIGITAL

• 
• 
• 
• 

Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince.

Control your destiny, face your fears, and awaken magical Archetype powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an Archetype, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.

Developer(s)

Studio Zero

Publisher(s)

Atlus

Platform(s)

PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S

Genre(s)

RPG, JRPG, Action, Adventure

Powered by

Expand Collapse