All articles tagged with #level 5
Level-5 previews a thought-provoking ending for Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, tying themes of humanity, civilization and AI to a richer story and more puzzles, all to be released simultaneously worldwide on Nintendo Switch platforms.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam marks the series’ first non‑Nintendo release, coming to PC (Steam) and PlayStation 5 in 2026 (alongside Switch) with a new 3D‑animated art style and mouse support on Switch 2. The move follows Level‑5’s recent multiplatform success, signaling broader accessibility for the beloved puzzle franchise.
LEVEL-5 announced Professor Layton and the New World of Steam will launch on PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam) toward the end of 2026, joining Switch 2 and standard Switch versions. The puzzle-filled adventure, set a year after Unwound Future in Steam Bison, promises more puzzles, new cast members, full 3D cutscenes, and a theme song collaboration with Joe Hisaishi and Lilas Ikuta, with localization and visuals polishing underway.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is slated for a 2026 release on PS5 and PC (Steam), joining Switch as multiplatform Puzzle adventure with enhanced puzzles, a full world map, updated movement, new companions, 3D cutscenes, Switch 2 mouse support, a coin radar mode, and expanded language support.
Level-5 confirms Professor Layton’s PS5 debut in 2026 with Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, a simultaneous worldwide release also headed to Switch 2, Switch, and PC, featuring PS5 mouse support, 3D cutscenes, improved movement, and new companions.
Level-5’s Vision 2026 April showcase outlined a broad slate headed largely by Switch 2 projects and several mobile titles, but most entries carried vague “in development” status rather than firm dates. Highlights include Snack World: Reloaded for Switch 2, Inazuma Eleven: Cross (mobile) with a June window, and Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road for Switch 2 (Japan) on June 11, plus Professor Layton and the New World of Steam for Switch 1 & 2 with a 2026 target and Joe Hisaishi behind the new theme. Also showcased were Pufflings, Yo-kai Watch: The Great Detective Nekomata, and Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (mobile), signaling progress but few concrete release windows beyond general year targets. Overall, the event offered teasers and updates more than firm launch dates.
LEVEL-5 announced Snack World: Reloaded, a remake of Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl – Gold, for PS5, Switch 2, and PC (Steam). Release date hasn’t been revealed. The remake features significantly updated graphics, gameplay, controls, and story, plus a new mode that lets players experience the story from Chup’s perspective, making it feel almost like a brand-new title.
Level-5's Vision 2026 showcased Inazuma Eleven RE, Decapolice, and Holy Horror Mansion, but precise release dates are unclear: Inazuma Eleven RE has a 2026 window with a Switch 2 version confirmed; Decapolice has shifted to Switch 2 in some listings while the official site still lists 2026; Holy Horror Mansion appeared in footage with no timetable, leaving overall 2026 timing uncertain alongside Professor Layton and The New World of Steam. Fans face delays and platform changes amid GenAI debates surrounding the studio's development approach.
LEVEL-5 released a teaser for Holy Horror Mansion, described as a ghost craft RPG announced for Vision 2026; the trailer outlines a heartwarming horror story about a boy who finds a camera in a locked room, encounters a ghost, and becomes entangled in family turmoil. Platforms and a release date haven’t been announced yet, and a cross‑media event with related merchandise and media plans is expected in 2026, though the trailer ends with the line that development is still in progress.
Comcept, the game studio founded by Keiji Inafune, was officially dissolved by a shareholders’ resolution on January 13, 2026. The move follows corporate reorganizations linked to LEVEL-5, including Inafune’s 2024 departure from Level-5 and LEVEL-5 Osaka absorbing the older comcept unit. While Comcept developed Mighty No. 9 and contributed to titles like Soul Sacrifice and ReCore, the dissolution ends its standalone entity with related IPs and personnel shifting under other LEVEL-5 entities or partnerships.
Comcept, the studio behind Mighty No. 9, has officially dissolved. Founded in 2010 by Keiji Inafune, it was merged into Level-5 Comcept in 2017 and later absorbed into Level-5's Osaka operation in 2024, with the final dissolution marking the brand's closure after the controversial Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter and its mixed reception.
LEVEL-5 and Aiming announce Inazuma Eleven: Cross for iOS and Android as a free-to-play mobile soccer RPG with item-based in-app purchases; Japan-only closed beta opens with 20,000 slots. The game features a new protagonist and coaching-focused gameplay, where players guide matches rather than control each player, with Victory Road data not compatible and no release date announced.
Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has expressed a positive view of Generative AI in game development, emphasizing its potential as a tool for efficiency and creativity, while addressing misconceptions about its use and the importance of ethical application. He advocates for recognizing AI as a beneficial tool rather than a threat, and highlights its potential to significantly reduce game development time.
LEVEL-5 announced its lineup for Tokyo Game Show 2025, featuring games like Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, Professor Layton and The New World of Steam, and FANTASY LIFE i, with demo stations and rewards at the event, which runs from September 25-28 in Japan.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is celebrating over 1 million sales with a free DLC update that introduces an unexpected open-world roguelike mode, along with new characters, gear, and customization options, aiming to enhance the experience for both new and veteran players.