Atlus has confirmed that Persona 4 Revival will not make significant changes to the controversial storylines involving characters Kanji Tatsumi and Naoto Shirogane. While fans had hoped the remake might address perceived issues with how the original game handled queerness, developers stated that the characters' identities and arcs will remain largely intact.
General Producer Kazuhisa Wada told Ungeek that the stories of Kanji and Naoto are "sincere" and that the team "didn't want to change their own personalities and identities." He added that players would understand the narratives more deeply upon playing the remake, and Director Daisuke Yajima noted that "graphic" improvements are a focus, not narrative alteration. However, Yajima did mention that minor details will be added to "support the story and address the lack of understanding."
In the original Persona 4, Kanji's storyline explored his potential attraction to men and his enjoyment of traditionally feminine hobbies like knitting. The game's resolution suggested he was not queer, but rather confused about societal expectations of masculinity, a conclusion many felt dismissed his bisexuality. Naoto's arc involved a character who presented as male to be taken seriously as a detective, but whose discomfort with femininity and dialogue regarding gender affirmation led to interpretations of a trans identity. Both storylines have been subjects of extensive fan discourse for years, with some fans continuing to interpret them as queer narratives.
Recent reports indicate that some imagery related to these arcs has been altered. Specifically, elements within Kanji's dungeon, which was originally themed as a men-only bathhouse and featured imagery suggesting his struggle with male attraction, have reportedly been changed. Symbols within the dungeon have been altered to be less exclusively male, and signage may now read "unisex" instead of "men only." Despite these visual adjustments, the core narrative resolutions remain unchanged.
Additionally, Persona 4 Revival will not include romance options for Yosuke, a character with whom some players had hoped to pursue a same-sex relationship. A gay romance option for Yosuke was reportedly considered and then cut during the development of the original Persona 4, and while it was apparently reconsidered for Revival, it will not be implemented.