Phantom Thieves Strike Again: The Most Likely Overwatch 2 Heroes for Persona 5 Crossover Skins

The gaming world is buzzing with excitement over the latest crossover announcement for Overwatch 2. Blizzard has officially confirmed that Season 18, set to launch on August 26, 2025, will feature a collaboration with Atlus’s iconic JRPG, Persona 5. The teaser trailer, which ended with a silhouette of Joker, has sent the community into a frenzy of speculation. While Blizzard has a history of surprising fans with unexpected skin pairings, the core cast of the Phantom Thieves has distinct personalities, aesthetics, and weapons that make some hero match-ups in the Overwatch 2 roster seem almost too obvious to ignore. This article breaks down the most likely candidates for the highly anticipated Persona 5 skins, based on a careful analysis of character abilities, themes, and visual design.

This collaboration follows a long line of successful events for Overwatch 2, including crossovers with One-Punch Man, Cowboy Bebop, and My Hero Academia. The success of these events has proven that a well-executed collaboration can inject new life and excitement into the game. The key to a great crossover is not just slapping a new coat of paint on a hero; it’s about finding a thematic and functional parallel between the two characters. For the Persona 5 event, where each hero has a specific role and persona, this is more important than ever. The community has already begun to narrow down the potential candidates, and some choices stand out as perfect matches.

The Obvious Choices: Perfect Matches for the Phantom Thieves

The Phantom Thieves are a diverse group, and their unique skills and personalities provide a wealth of opportunities for creative skins. Here are the most likely and most anticipated pairings:

• Joker -> Cassidy or Genji: This is the most debated pairing, and for good reason. Joker’s iconic trench coat, mask, and dagger-and-gun combo make for a compelling match-up. While a forum leak suggests Joker’s skin might be for a broader-shouldered male character, the community is torn between two main candidates.
  • Cassidy: As a pistol-wielding cowboy, Cassidy is a top choice due to his single-handed firearm and his existing skins that feature long coats. The developers could easily adapt Joker’s Phantom Thief outfit to fit Cassidy’s model.
  • Genji: Another strong contender, Genji’s agility and use of a kunai (similar to Joker’s dagger) make for a compelling thematic fit. While he doesn’t use a gun, the developers could incorporate Joker’s gun into his abilities, such as his Shuriken or his Deflect.
• Panther (Ann Takamaki) -> Kiriko or Mercy: Ann, with her red latex suit and whip, has two perfect matches in the support category.
  • Kiriko: Her acrobatic movement and long, flowing jacket make for an ideal fit. The developers could easily replace her kunai with a dagger and her Ofuda healing tags with a new custom design. Her Kitsune Spirit could even be a stand-in for her Persona, Carmen.
  • Mercy: With her long dress and elegant movements, Mercy could also be a great fit. Her staff could be adapted into a whip-like design, and her Resurrect ability would feel very “Persona-esque.”
• Oracle (Futaba Sakura) -> D.Va: This is arguably the most perfect match in the entire crossover. Futaba is a tech-savvy hacker who controls a massive, flying Persona. D.Va, a tech-savvy gamer who controls a massive, flying mech, is the undeniable choice. The D.Va skin would transform her mech into Futaba’s Persona, Necronomicon, with D.Va herself wearing Futaba’s signature suit.

The Less Obvious but Still Possible Match-ups

Beyond the core team, there are other Phantom Thieves and other Overwatch 2 heroes that could work together thematically, offering some fun and unexpected skin choices.

• Skull (Ryuji Sakamoto) -> Junker Queen: Ryuji is the tough, brawler-type of the group. Junker Queen, with her scrap-based armor and tank role, would be a great fit for his aggressive and close-quarters playstyle.
• Fox (Yusuke Kitagawa) -> Genji: If Genji isn’t chosen for Joker, he is a perfect match for Yusuke. Both are disciplined, artistic, and use swords. The aesthetic of Yusuke’s Phantom Thief outfit would fit Genji’s model perfectly.
• Mona (Morgana) -> Hammond (Wrecking Ball): Morgana, a small cat-like creature that transforms into a bus, is a perfect analog for Hammond, a small hamster that controls a giant mechanical ball. This would be a hilarious and well-executed free skin for the event.

The Persona 5 collaboration is set to be one of the biggest events in Overwatch 2‘s history, bringing a fresh wave of excitement and new cosmetics to the game. While the exact heroes to receive skins are still a closely guarded secret, the thematic connections between the Phantom Thieves and the Overwatch 2 roster are too strong to ignore. As the launch of Season 18 draws near, the anticipation will only grow, and fans can’t wait to see which heroes get to steal some hearts.