Publisher Atlus has been forced to push back the official North American release of their latest RPG, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, to August 14th. The game was previously scheduled to ship starting today, so the news will definitely be a downer for sleepless Persona fans.

The delay stems from production issues surrounding the art book which will be included with copies of Persona 3. While it is frustrating to see the game pushed back three weeks for reasons not related to bugs or game production, on the bright side this is a sign that Atlus is a real stickler for quality no matter the product.

The manufacturing issue with the art book was brought to our attention mere days prior to the initial ship date, and was a scenario both unforeseen and beyond our control. Our disappointment and frustration is tempered by the knowledge that the final product will live up to our standard of quality and also the expectations of our fans.

While many are willing to sacrifice the art book in favor of the game alone, the package we have spent the last few months designing, one intended to honor the series and reward fans for an eight year wait, would be irreparably compromised if we were to revise or abandon the deluxe package. Without the art book, the outer box would lack the structural integrity to endure shipping; all extras would need to be discarded. Again, this deluxe set was created for the fans of Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, and we are determined to see the special release through to the end.

We apologize for the delay, and we ask for your understanding.

Wolfwood via atlus.com »