Do I need to play any previous versions of this game prior?

[Fresca]

Never heard of this game, but looks so good. Just wondering if I need to play any previous games to understand this game or can I jump right into it when it's released

[The Fruit Soup I am]

I mean You don’t have to? It’s a whole separate game than persona or shin megami tensei in general, It’s like starting with Elden ring, You can always play persona once your done with metaphor ig

[Hanzo]

Originally posted by Fresca:

Never heard of this game, but looks so good. Just wondering if I need to play any previous games to understand this game or can I jump right into it when it's released

This is new IP. Ofc you could probably get some reference to other atlus games. But in terms of plot and understanding the world you don't need play anything prior that.

[Caffeinated Quill]

I would wait for a price drop though. They do it relatively "soon" after release (worth the wait cause 70 USD should NOT be the norm). Atlus is known for remaking their own games pretty close together and making you pay full price for it (specifically Persona 4 and 5) so keep in mind they might try that with this game as well. As interesting as this game is, the company annoys me so much lol so I'll likely be waiting. That's really the only info you need going in. Highly recommend the persona series (And if you like really hard games, maybe a few SMT's) but wait for sales.

[ShockedHearts]

I would highly recommend the persona games and SMT games. but playing them is not at all needed to understand anything in this game

at most you would just learn the style of combat and how social systems work ahead of time. but like those games this one will teach that to you as you play.

lore wise its *unlikely* this will tie into SMT or persona but not entirely out of the question.
regardless developers have said this is a NEW IP unrelated to the stories of persona and SMT.