“It Was Definitely Interesting”: Persona 5: The Phantom X Developer Surprised by Global Enthusiasm for the Subway Slammer

The Subway Slammer is the first major enemy players encounter in the gacha spin-off Persona 5: The Phantom X, and his reception outside Japan has been unexpectedly comedic. While intended to represent a serious real-world issue, the character quickly became a source of memes and jokes among Western audiences due to his name and exaggerated presentation.

In Japan, the character is rooted in the real problem of “butsukari otoko,” a form of harassment in which men deliberately collide with women in crowded public spaces such as train stations. This context gives the character a far darker meaning than what many overseas players initially perceived.

According to the game’s chief producer Yohsuke Uda, the stark difference in reactions appears to stem from cultural nuances that did not fully translate during localization. When the team showcased the character at a major event in Los Angeles, the crowd’s enthusiastic cheering came as a surprise rather than the serious response the developers had anticipated.

Despite the unintended humor, the development team does not view the reaction as entirely negative. From their perspective, the character still succeeds in drawing attention to a genuine societal problem, even if the tone shifted once it crossed cultural boundaries.

Uda explained that while the audience response differed from expectations, it still helped raise awareness about an issue that exists in real life. In that sense, the character fulfilled part of his narrative purpose, even if the message landed differently.

This experience has not discouraged the developers from continuing to weave real-world themes into the Persona series. Addressing social issues through exaggerated villains remains a core element of the franchise’s storytelling approach.

As the game moves forward, Persona 5: The Phantom X has now launched its half-anniversary update, adding new playable characters, story content, and celebratory rewards—signaling that, meme status or not, the Subway Slammer has not derailed the team’s broader creative vision.