Developer Atlus has forbidden Persona 5 players to use the PlayStation 4 share function, which allows to capture screenshots and video using the console’s built-in functionality.
In a statement to Polygon, Atlus confirmed that the decision to prohibit sharing Persona 5 ’s content was made in order to keep story spoilers from spreading.
“This being a Japanese title with solely a single-playthrough story means Japan is very wary about it,” an Atlus representative stated. “Sharing is currently blocked through the native PS4 UI.”
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The sharing feature for Persona 5 will remain disabled after the game’s international launch on April 5. While some games do prohibit the sharing of video or screenshots during certain portions of the game, it is unusual to have this feature completely blocked for the game’s duration.
Players in Japan have been able to share screenshots using the PlayStation 4’s share function but only from the opening animation and main menu. The PS4 sharing features are disabled for the rest of the game in the Japanese version of Persona 5 as well, according to Atlus.
Even reviewers are expected to abide by these guidelines, as the embargo guidelines reveal: “Please PLEASE do not post any specific plot points or story spoilers, and only talk about the game in broad strokes,” says Atlus in its official email to review outlets. That’s par for the course when it comes to a hot RPG, but doesn’t seem quite right once the game is out and its content has been thoroughly discussed.
There are other ways to disseminate video and screen capture rather than the native PS4 functionality, of course, but Atlus appears to have gone to some effort to keep fans unspoiled. In this day and age, that level of care seems downright sweet.
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With a Metacritic score of 94, Persona 5 takes its place among the creme de la creme of J-RPGs, including Chrono Cross and Final Fantasy IX. Critical reception appears positively rapturous.
Persona 5 releases for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 on April 4. Will you be playing? Do you appreciate the care to avoid spoilers or will spoilers always find a way? Feel free to talk Persona 5 in our comments section below.
- Gripping, twisty-turny story
- Collect all the waifus!
- Rapid-fire turn-based combat
- Infectious soundtrack
- Literally everything
- A cat making you go to bed when you're not tired
- Say goodbye to your actual life
