Is Persona 4 Arena Ultimax a sequel?

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax was released on PC on March 17, 2022. The game is the latest in a list of spinoffs and side games to the hugely popular Persona 4 RPG. But is Persona 4 Arena Ultimax a sequel? Or more specifically, is this newly released version a sequel to the game's original release from 2014?

Simply put, the main story of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a direct sequel to Persona 4 Arena, which takes place after the main story of Persona 4. However, since both fighting games are spinoff games and crossover fighting games, it's debatable whether they count as canon sequels.

Perhaps more confusingly, the 2022 release of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is sometimes known in the community as Persona 4 Arena Ultimax 2.0.

Related: What’s the difference between the story modes in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax?

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Story Order

With that confusion somewhat cleared up, lets quickly run through the story order for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax 2.0 comes with the Persona 4 Arena story included. This is chronologically the first story mode. To play this story, select Persona 4 Arena Story Mode in the Main Menu.

Episode P4 happens after the events of Persona 4 Arena Story Mode. Play this mode second. Finally, Episode P3, which is unlocked after completing Episode P4, takes place at the same time as Episode P4, but with Persona 3 characters. Additionally, the Arcade Mode uses a massively stripped down version of the Episode P4's story as its backdrop, but it won't spoil the story if you play it.

What is Persona 4 Arena Ultimax 2.0

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax 2.0 is the name given to the 2022 release of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. This is because while it is a rerelease of the original 2014 Persona 4 Arena Ultimax game, it has a fair few changes. 

For one, it comes with a lot more features and content, including the original Persona 4 Arena story mode and all the previously available DLC characters unlocked. Additionally, because it's a port to PC, it has a number of changes and alterations to make it more compatible.

Overall, fans of the series refer to the 2022 release as Persona 4 Arena Ultimax 2.0 to differentiate it from the 2014 release. It is not a sequel to Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.

For more Persona 4 Arena Ultimax story questions check out Do you need to play Persona 4 or Persona 4 Arena to understand Persona 4 Arena Ultimax? on Pro Game Guides.