Professor Layton and the New World of Steam was one of the biggest surprise announcements of 2023. While the return of Level-5's polite professor might have felt like a no-brainer to some, it appears that the studio was initially hesitant about a comeback. That is until certain big names in the industry started pushing for it (thanks, Automaton).
This is according to Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino who, in a recent Tokyo Game Show chat with Dragon Quest's Yuji Horii, confessed that the team was content to leave the Layton series alone after it had reached a "beautiful" conclusion.
However, Hino continues, certain figures "from the industry" pushed for another game, including a mysterious "Company 'N'" — now, who do we think that could be?
Let's remember that Nintendo was on publishing duties for all DS and 3DS Layton entries outside Japan, where the series became one of the consoles' most beloved exclusives. Of course, Hino isn't specifically saying it was the Big N pushing for another series entry (the elusive "Company N" could be another studio entirely), but we think it's a fair assumption to make.
You can find Hino's full quote (translated by Automaton) below:
Certain individual(s) from the industry really wanted us to release a new game…we had a strong push coming from company 'N'. 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
The Switch is already home to a Layton game of sorts, as Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy - Deluxe Edition got ported over back in 2019. A spin-off starring Layton's daughter (?), this one isn't commonly regarded amongst the series' best — even by Hino, it seems, if he wanted to have another stab at hitting "the level of quality provided by the latest console" with New World of Steam.
The next mainline entry is set to arrive on Switch at some point in 2025 and will see Layton and Luke reunited after the events of the third game in the series, The Lost Future.
We were lucky enough to go hands-on with New World of Steam at Tokyo Game Show this year, where we called the upcoming title "a return to form for the series". You can find our full preview coverage and a look at the latest trailer below.
How excited are you for Professor Layton and the New World of Steam? Let us know in the comments.
[source youtube.com, via automaton-media.com]
Comments 17
If Nintendo had something to do … then it’s a well deserved time to have Layton for the next Smash.
I mean, 6 exclusive games for Nintendo consoles have cemented this character as an icon for the big N and the puzzle genre in general.
I can’t wait for the next entry.
Id be sown for a brand new Layton game. Its been too long since the Prof has taken centre stage.
Makes sense as already mentioned by the article and I love to see it not only because we're getting a new Layton game (and potentially more in the future) thanks to it, but also as it shows that Level-5 and Nintendo are still on good terms!
Thank you to everyone who is making this possible.
Level-5 has a pretty strong partnership with Namco as well, although I guess they go by Bandai-Namco these days and would be "company B." But I'm pretty sure Namco published Ni No Kuni at the very least.
I’m still surprised that Level 5 hasn’t created a trilogy collection of the first 3 Layton games for the Switch unless the Apple App Store version still brings in crazy amount of money.
Reggie is my guess as “Company N”.
Both the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy had beautiful endings. I can understand from the point of a storyteller to want to end it on a high note, but as a gamer and a fan of Layton's world I'm grateful they are making a new game
@Yoshi3 7 if you include the Ace Attorney crossover and 8 if you include his daughter's game
Layton is peak non-Nintendo series that might as well be a Nintendo series.
The puzzles will have to be designed to be done using a controller so may as well bring the series to other consoles and get more players.
Still wondering why Nintendo hasn't at the very least bought a minority stake in the company, like they have with HaL or Intelligent Systems
@Yoshi3
Yes! Layton in the next Smash needs to happen.
It seems I'm in the minority here that knows the Layton Brothers: Mystery Room mobile title exists. It's a spinoff I enjoyed that runs sort of like the investigation sections in Ace Attorney. The first part of the game is free, at least on Android.
I'm glad that Layton is returning. My hope is Level-5 gives the professor his due diligence and isn't cobbling something together just for the sake of "Company N".
@Tyranexx I would think the fact they took the criticism of Katrielle's game to heart and deliberately sought out a new puzzle designer (the team at QuizKnock, a prominent puzzle-designing company in Japan) to try and reach the bar set by the late Akira Tago means they're taking this game seriously
Natsume comes through again!!!
For reals though, thank you Nintendo.
@PikaPhantom I was unfamiliar with QuizKnock before they announced who's doing the puzzles, but I'm glad to know the game might be in good hands. I do hope they can do Akira Tago justice.
I actually like Layton's Mystery Journey, but more for the slice of life setting, characters, visuals (In true Layton style), and extras. The puzzles are indeed all over the place though. A few I liked, but the rest ranged between easy, illogical trick questions, and a couple where I thought I could use more information. I can easily rank all but one of the other main six Layton titles over the game.
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