DIRECT TOP-UP
CARDP5X P3P Collab: Hamuko Arrives September 24
The P5X P3P collaboration preview livestream is coming on September 21.
Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this day ever since the emergency special broadcast in July officially announced the P3P collaboration······ Hamuko, we’re talking about Hamuko!!! Kotone Shiomi, the female protagonist of P3P, hasn’t appeared in a mainline title with a proper 3D model since the 2010 PSP version. Fans are still furious that she was completely cut from the P3R remake, and now she’s actually coming back in P5X??
Her release date has also been confirmed: September 24, just three days after the livestream.
For anyone who hasn’t been following the news closely, here are the key points.
Who Is Kotone Shiomi—and Why Is Her Return So Emotional for Longtime Fans?
If you’ve only played P5 or P5X, the name Kotone Shiomi may not be very familiar. But among longtime Persona fans, her other name, “Hamuko,” is practically legendary.
Kotone Shiomi is the female protagonist of Persona 3 Portable, serving as the counterpart to the male protagonist Makoto Yuki from the original P3. In the game, she shares the same initial Persona, Orpheus, with Makoto, but her appearance and personality are completely different. Hamuko is more outgoing and lively, and her Social Links are exclusive to P3P, making her route very different from the male protagonist’s.
Her “tragedy,” however, is that when the P3R remake was released in 2024, the producers said they did not include her due to insufficient time and budget. The DLC fans had been asking for never materialized. As a result, since Persona Q2 in 2019, Hamuko has not appeared in a mainline entry at normal scale. She was absent from P3R, while spin-offs only featured her in chibi form.
This P5X x P3P collaboration marks her first return to the series as a high-quality 3D model in a mobile game. For longtime fans, this is more than just a collaboration—it is the relief of knowing that the official team finally remembered she exists.
The livestream confirmed that she will officially launch on September 24 with a simultaneous worldwide release.
What Is the Sync Persona System—a Special Benefit for Early-Version Players?
This collaboration also introduces a fairly special mechanic called “Sync Persona.”
Based on the information available so far, this is a special enhancement system designed to adapt globally synchronized characters to early-release regions such as China. It originated with the previous Hatsune Miku collaboration, and the already released “Justine & Caroline” will also receive this system.
In simple terms, P5X’s China and other early versions are ahead of the global servers. When a collaboration character launches worldwide at the same time, early-version players are playing in a different environment from global players, so applying exactly the same numbers could cause balance issues. Sync Persona provides an environment-adaptation boost for early-version characters, helping them perform properly in the current combat environment.
The Japanese and North American versions will also receive this system in the future—it is only a matter of time. So early-version players do not need to worry that their Hamuko will be a “nerfed version.” Sync Persona will bring her strength up to a level appropriate for the current version.
What to Watch in the Preview—Key Points at 19:00 on September 21
Tonight’s broadcast is a special preview program for the P3P collaboration and the 2.5 Anniversary version. It will begin simultaneously at 19:00 on official channels including Bilibili and YouTube.
Producer Lao V and operations host Xiao A will appear together, along with a mysterious guest. Based on the usual format of Persona livestreams, this “mysterious guest” will most likely be connected to the P3P collaboration—possibly a voice actor or a member of the development team.
The livestream has several major highlights: Hamuko’s role and skill kit will finally be revealed, along with the specific P3P collaboration banner schedule, 2.5 Anniversary rewards, and follow-up information about Chapter 6. There will also be livestream-exclusive rewards, so be sure to watch for redeem codes.
If you want to know as soon as possible whether Hamuko is powerful and worth pulling for, don’t miss tonight’s broadcast.
Pull Advice—How to Prepare Now
Hamuko launches on September 24, only three days from now.
Based on past experience, P3R and P3P collaboration characters have generally been quite strong in P5X. The previously released Junpei Iori, Koromaru, and Aigis were all limited five-star characters with clearly defined roles. As the core character of the P3P collaboration, Hamuko will very likely also be a limited five-star character.
Her role has not been officially confirmed yet. Some community members speculate that she may be an Ice or Bless character, but these are only guesses—the livestream will provide the official answer. Traditionally, Hamuko’s initial Persona Orpheus is more focused on support and healing in P3P. However, P5X collaboration characters are often heavily adapted, so her original role cannot be applied directly.
There is only one thing you can do to prepare right now: hold on to your currency. 2.5 Anniversary versions usually come with plenty of rewards, and the livestream will also provide redeem codes. Decide whether and how much to pull after watching the broadcast. If you already plan to get Hamuko, you can start mapping out your pulls once the livestream ends.
KARDZ Recommended Top-Up Guide
As an officially recommended top-up channel by Kardz, we would like to share a few words with all fellow captains.
The P3P collaboration combined with the 2.5 Anniversary version means exactly what you think it means. Limited collaboration characters are usually a once-they’re-gone-they’re-gone deal, and Hamuko is a popular character with special significance, so demand will likely be high. The 2.5 Anniversary version may also feature dual banners or rerun banners, which could put serious pressure on your currency reserves.
That makes the choice of top-up channel especially important. Kardz allows you to top up directly through your game UID, so you never need to hand your account password to a third party, eliminating the risk of account theft at the source. It provides 24/7 customer support and supports major payment methods including Visa, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. No matter your time zone or device, you can complete your top-up quickly.
For players who want to secure Hamuko during the P3P collaboration, Kardz is a safe, convenient, and reliable option. Search for “Kardz” to learn more about the service; the official website provides detailed top-up instructions and frequently asked questions.
Honestly, I have mixed feelings while writing this preview.
On one hand, I’m genuinely excited. Ever since Hamuko was cut from P3R, fans have been waiting for a sign that she could still return. This P5X collaboration finally offers some closure, and she is arriving as a proper implementation with a 3D model, dedicated story content, and voice acting—not a chibi version or a brief cameo. On the other hand, there is some concern. Collaboration characters are still part of a gacha game, and unlucky players may fail to pull her. In that case, all you can do is watch someone else’s Hamuko use her skills right in front of you······
Regardless, tonight’s 19:00 livestream is definitely worth watching. Her role, skill kit, and reward details will all be revealed tonight. I’ve prepared snacks and a power bank—what about you?
Are you joining the livestream tonight? If Hamuko turns out to be an Ice main DPS, how many copies are you planning to pull? Let’s discuss it in the comments and see how many longtime fans are already crying in front of their computers~
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