If you’ve been keeping an eye on Persona 5: The Phantom X, you probably already know the global launch just dropped and yep, it’s already causing buzz.

After months of closed betas and slow teases, the game officially launched globally on June 26, 2025 across Android, iOS, and PC via Steam. But there’s a slight catch for those of us in Southeast Asia: our servers won’t open until July 3.

Yep. A whole week of delay. I know. I’m also making sad Morgana faces.

What is The Phantom X anyway?

For the uninitiated, Persona 5: The Phantom X (or P5X) is a mobile-first (but also PC-available) spin-off set in an alternate universe post-Persona 5. It introduces a new cast led by a sleepy but stylish protagonist codenamed “Wonder,” who gets dragged into a familiar Metaverse mess involving cognitive distortion, talking animal companions (this time it’s an owl named Lufel), and high school drama.

Think: turn-based combat with “1 More” mechanics, stylish dungeon crawling, social links, calendar systems. Basically everything you love about Persona 5, but now on the go.

So how’s the game so far? Here’s what players are saying

Players who’ve already jumped into The Phantom X are generally having a good time, especially fans of Persona 5 who’ve missed the thrill of stylish turn-based battles and anime-school-life chaos. Early impressions highlight just how faithful the game feels to its source material. The combat system, in particular, has been getting praise for translating the signature “1 More” mechanic and elemental strategies into a mobile-friendly experience that still feels snappy and rewarding.

Many are also loving the visuals. Menus, cut-ins, transitions, and even the loading screens scream Persona in all the right ways. The music, too, has that jazzy, slightly chaotic edge fans expect. It’s clearly been built with love for the original.

That said, some players are already raising eyebrows at the gacha mechanics. Drop rates for top-tier characters and weapons have been described as stingy, and rerolling can feel like a grind. Still, the story seems to be exceeding expectations, with more depth and personality than some anticipated from a free-to-play mobile game.

In short: it’s scratching the Persona itch, and for now, most are choosing to enjoy the ride, wallets cautiously in hand.

The gacha-shaped elephant in the room

Unlike the original Persona 5, The Phantom X is free-to-play and powered by a gacha system. This means players will be pulling for characters and weapons (called “contracts”) using an in-game currency, with pity systems, banners, and, yes, tempting limited-time events.

If you’ve played Genshin Impact, you’ll know the drill. There’s definitely potential for fun, but also potential for wallet danger. So fair warning: set your limits, folks.

SEA release date: July 3 (le sigh)

While global servers are already live, Southeast Asia has been placed on hold. The game officially launches for SEA on July 3, 2025.

That means:

• You can download the game now.
• But you can’t log in on SEA servers until July 3.
• Players in other regions are already leveling up, rerolling for 5-stars, and casually spoiling the story on Reddit (muting keywords now is highly recommended).

Should you be excited?

If you’re a Persona fan, definitely a yes. Despite the F2P monetization, early impressions suggest that P5X captures a lot of what made Persona 5 special. It’s sleek, weirdly emotional, and built for short bursts of play. Perfect for those of us juggling jobs, commutes, or just grown-up gamer life.

If you miss the days of dodging homework to go dungeon-crawling in Shibuya, this game might just scratch that itch. Just… maybe dodge the gacha if you’re prone to “just one more pull” syndrome.

TL;DR

• Persona 5: The Phantom X is out globally for mobile and PC as of June 26.
• Southeast Asia release is delayed to July 3 (booo).
• Free-to-play with gacha elements.
• Early players are loving the style, story, and combat but wary of the gacha grind.

Are you planning to play The Phantom X when it drops in SEA? Already eyeing a favorite character? Or are you staying loyal to Joker and the OG squad?