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Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance and the Gaming Industry’s ‘Complete Edition’ Problem: Fan Backlash Explained
Atlas’s announcement of Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance has reignited debate over the gaming industry’s “complete edition” business model, with fans expressing frustration over the two-year gap between the original PS4 release and the enhanced version. The controversy highlights a broader industry trend of re-releasing games with additional content, raising questions about fairness to existing players and the long-term sustainability of consumer trust.
What Happened
Atlas announced Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance, an enhanced version of the 2021 PS4 release, arriving just two years after the original game’s launch. The new version will be available on both PS4 and PS5, featuring new story content, additional characters, and improved game systems. The announcement has sparked widespread criticism on social media, gaming forums, and video platforms, with players who purchased the original version expressing frustration over what they perceive as an unfair business practice.
Why It Matters
This situation reflects a critical tension in modern gaming between developer profitability and player loyalty. The “complete edition” model has become increasingly common across the industry, but the accelerating timeline between original releases and enhanced versions raises questions about consumer trust and fair value. For a franchise with a 30-year history of version-based releases, the Megami Tensei series exemplifies how established business practices can evolve into practices that alienate long-time supporters. The broader implications extend to how gaming companies balance short-term revenue maximization against long-term customer relationships.
Background
The Megami Tensei franchise has a documented history of releasing multiple versions of the same game. Since the original 1992 release, the series has consistently employed a multi-version sales strategy. Notable examples include Shin Megami Tensei III (2003), which received the Maniacs edition in 2004 and the Nocturne version in 2008; Shin Megami Tensei IV (2013), followed by the Final version in 2014; and now Shin Megami Tensei V (2021) followed by Vengeance in 2023.
However, the two-year gap between Shin Megami Tensei V and Vengeance represents a significant acceleration compared to historical patterns. Previous iterations typically saw one to two-year intervals between versions, but the compressed timeline for Vengeance has intensified player frustration. This mirrors similar controversies surrounding Persona 5 Royal (2019), released four years after the original Persona 5 (2016), and Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition (2019), which arrived four years after the base game.
Key Points
- Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance was announced just two years after the original PS4 release, significantly faster than historical precedent for the franchise
- Players who purchased the original version at full price report feeling betrayed, citing loss of trust in Atlus as a primary concern rather than simple financial loss
- New players view Vengeance as an optimal entry point, receiving a complete package with all content and improvements included from launch
- The gaming industry has doubled its output of “complete editions” between 2018–2023 compared to 2010–2017, indicating an industry-wide acceleration of this business model
- Different publishers employ varying strategies: Nintendo has largely avoided complete editions, while Atlus and Square Enix have made them central to their business model
- Fan frustration stems not primarily from financial loss but from perceived betrayal of trust, unfair treatment of early adopters, and questions about the value of time invested in the original version
Timeline
- 1992: Original Shin Megami Tensei launches, establishing the franchise’s multi-version release tradition
- 2003–2008: Shin Megami Tensei III released in multiple versions (original, Maniacs, Nocturne) with multi-year intervals
- 2013–2014: Shin Megami Tensei IV followed by Final version within one year
- 2016–2019: Persona 5 followed by Persona 5 Royal four years later, sparking similar controversy
- 2019: Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition released four years after the original
- November 2021: Shin Megami Tensei V launches on PS4
- 2023: Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance announced for PS4 and PS5, just two years after original release
Perspectives
Existing Player Perspective: Players who purchased Shin Megami Tensei V at full price express frustration centered on broken trust rather than simple financial regret. They invested 50+ hours in the original game, viewing that time commitment as an expression of loyalty to the franchise. The rapid announcement of a superior version feels like a betrayal of that loyalty. Social media discussions frequently reference the Persona 5 Royal controversy, suggesting accumulated frustration with Atlus’s approach. Players argue that a two-year interval is too short to justify a full-price re-release and that existing players deserve compensation such as discounts or exclusive content.
New Player Perspective: Prospective players who have not yet experienced the franchise view Vengeance as the optimal entry point. They gain access to a complete, polished experience with all content included from launch. For this audience, the complete edition represents better value and a superior introduction to the series. Comments from new players emphasize that Vengeance provides a more comprehensive experience than the original version could offer.
Industry Economics Perspective: Game development costs have increased substantially, with AAA titles now requiring 1.5 to 2 times the investment of previous generations. Final Fantasy XV reportedly cost over $150 million to develop, while Cyberpunk 2077 exceeded $200 million. Multiple revenue streams through version-based sales and DLC have become necessary to recoup these investments. Hardware transitions from PS4 to PS5 create additional opportunities for dual-platform releases. The success of live-service games like Fortnite and Apex Legends has normalized the concept of games evolving post-launch, making complete editions appear more justified.
Publisher Differentiation: Nintendo’s approach differs markedly from Atlus and Square Enix. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) has maintained a single version for six years with limited DLC, prioritizing long-term customer relationships. In contrast, Atlus and Square Enix have strategically integrated complete editions into their business models for major franchises including Persona, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest, suggesting a deliberate choice to prioritize short-term revenue maximization.
Insights
The Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance controversy reveals a fundamental misalignment between industry economics and consumer expectations. While development costs justify multiple revenue streams, the accelerating timeline between versions suggests publishers are optimizing for maximum extraction rather than sustainable customer relationships.
Fan anger centers on psychological factors beyond financial loss: perceived injustice toward early adopters, erosion of trust in publisher integrity, and the devaluation of time invested in the original experience. These factors are unique to gaming compared to other media, as games demand substantial time commitments that create deeper emotional investment.
The industry trend shows clear acceleration—complete editions have doubled in frequency over the past five years. This acceleration, combined with compressed timelines between versions, suggests the practice is becoming increasingly aggressive rather than stabilizing. The Megami Tensei franchise’s 30-year history of version releases has normalized this approach within its fanbase, creating resignation rather than acceptance.
A potential resolution exists through transparency and remediation: publishers could mitigate backlash by explicitly communicating the possibility of complete editions at launch and offering existing players meaningful compensation such as discounts, exclusive content, or upgrade paths. Nintendo’s approach demonstrates that alternative business models are viable, suggesting that Atlus’s strategy reflects choice rather than necessity.
The broader implication is that gaming’s relationship with its audience differs fundamentally from film or music industries. The time investment required creates expectations of reciprocal loyalty that complete editions violate. Publishers optimizing solely for revenue per release risk long-term brand damage and community erosion, as evidenced by accumulating frustration across multiple Atlus and Square Enix franchises.
