Persona 6 Should Embrace Poly Relationships

thegamer.com:

There's an abundance of things that the Persona series - and Atlus as a whole - should be doing when it comes to progressive themes and representation. But despite helming a series that paints itself as a celebration of counterculture and a realistic depiction of Japanese youth, it remains an experience that is continually held back by its own archaic prejudices.

Persona 5 often sexualises its female characters while simultaneously seeking to empower them with modern storylines, a dichotomy that stands out so much and makes it clear how much better these heroines could have been depicted. Heternormative relationships and some outdated jokes that punch down on LGBTQ+ people don’t help matters either, issues that I wish more people were willing to talk about.

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Joker and Ryuji should be canon boyfriends. Their romantic relationship arguably makes the most sense given the time they spend together and the bond they manage to form, but Atlus’ prudish approach towards queer themes means we are subjected to straight romance options even if they happen to involve adults, teachers, or even our surrogate little sister. It’s all a bit dodgy, more focused on abiding by anime archetypes than championing the progressive image it likes to constantly market itself with. Style can hide away any visual blemishes, but writing and characters is where this series frequently falls short.

I’d love for some of these flaws to be addressed in Persona 6, and I’d also love for the series to introduce the opportunity to pursue a polyamrous romance option. Every game in the series involves growing close with a selection of excellent characters. You form friendships that establish specific storylines