Professor Layton's Return: A New Adventure Fueled by Nintendo
The renowned Professor Layton is back with a brand new adventure, and Nintendo played a pivotal role in making it happen. This article delves into LEVEL-5 CEO Akihiro Hino's comments regarding the long-awaited sequel's development.
A Decade-Long Hiatus Ends Thanks to Nintendo
After a nearly ten-year absence, Professor Layton is returning, largely due to the encouragement of a certain influential gaming company. At Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2024, LEVEL-5 revealed that while they considered the series concluded with Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, "Company ‘N’" (widely understood to be Nintendo) strongly advocated for a new installment, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.
LEVEL-5 CEO Akihiro Hino stated (as reported by AUTOMATON) that the series' conclusion felt "beautiful," but the significant push from Nintendo proved instrumental in the sequel's creation. Hino highlighted the industry pressure, emphasizing the strong influence of "Company ‘N’" in reviving the series.
This involvement is unsurprising, given Nintendo's close ties to the franchise. The series flourished on the Nintendo DS and 3DS, with Nintendo publishing many titles and recognizing Professor Layton as a flagship DS exclusive. Hino explained that the positive feedback led to the decision to create a new game leveraging the capabilities of modern consoles.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam: A New Mystery Unveiled
Set a year after Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam reunites Professor Layton and Luke Triton in Steam Bison, a vibrant American city powered by steam technology. Their new adventure involves a captivating mystery surrounding Gunman King Joe, a gunslinger seemingly lost to the march of time, as revealed in recent trailers.
The game maintains the series' hallmark of intricate puzzles, enhanced this time through a collaboration with QuizKnock, a renowned puzzle-creation team. This partnership aims to address the mixed reception of Layton's Mystery Journey, which deviated from the core series formula. For more details on gameplay and storyline, please refer to our related article.
