Nintendo Saves Professor Layton Series from Ending

Professor Layton is preparing for a new adventure, and it's all due to Nintendo's influence. Dive into the details shared by LEVEL-5's CEO about the much-anticipated sequel.

Professor Layton’s Puzzle-Solving Adventures Continue

Thanks to ‘Company N’, Says LEVEL-5 CEO

After a nearly decade-long break, Professor Layton is back, and it's largely thanks to a certain iconic gaming giant. During Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2024, LEVEL-5, the creators of the beloved puzzle-adventure series, shared the behind-the-scenes story that led to the announcement of Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.

In a conversation with Dragon Quest series creator Yuji Horii at TGS 2024, LEVEL-5 CEO Akihiro Hino disclosed that although they believed the series had reached a "beautiful" conclusion with the prequel Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, the influential "Company 'N'"—widely recognized as Nintendo—urged the studio to revisit the Steampunk universe of Professor Layton.

"There hasn’t been [a new title] in almost 10 years. The series concluded briefly," Hino remarked, as reported by AUTOMATON. "Certain individuals from the industry really wanted us to release a new game… we had a strong push coming from company ‘N’."

Nintendo's involvement in bringing the series back is understandable, considering their close ties with the franchise. The Professor Layton series thrived on the Nintendo DS and 3DS platforms, with Nintendo not only publishing many of the titles but also cherishing the series as one of the DS's standout exclusives.

"When I heard these opinions, I started to think it would be good to make a new game so that fans could enjoy the series at the level of quality provided by the latest console," Hino explained.

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam Overview

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is set a year after Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, bringing back the titular professor and his loyal apprentice Luke Triton to Steam Bison, a vibrant American city powered by steam technology. Together, they will embark on a new journey to solve a baffling mystery, which, according to the latest trailer, involves Gunman King Joe, a "ghost of a gunslinger lost to the relentless march of progress."

The game will uphold the series' tradition of challenging puzzles, now enhanced with contributions from QuizKnock, a team renowned for their innovative brain teasers. Fans are eagerly anticipating this collaboration, especially after Layton’s Mystery Journey, which featured Layton’s daughter Katrielle and received mixed feedback due to its shift in focus.

Explore our detailed article below to delve deeper into Professor Layton and the New World of Steam's gameplay and narrative!