Revived Inheritance: Nintendo's Intervention Rescues Layton Legacy

Professor Layton's Return: A New Steam-Powered Adventure Thanks to Nintendo!

Get ready for a new Professor Layton adventure! After a long hiatus, the renowned puzzle-solving professor is back, and it's all thanks to a nudge from Nintendo. Read on to discover what LEVEL-5's CEO revealed about the highly anticipated sequel's development.

The Professor's Puzzle-Solving Continues

Nintendo's Encouragement Fuels the Sequel

Following a nearly decade-long absence, Professor Layton is returning, and we have a certain big-name gaming company to thank. At Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2024, LEVEL-5, the creators of the popular puzzle-adventure series, shared the story behind Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.

In a conversation with Yuji Horii, creator of the Dragon Quest series, LEVEL-5 CEO Akihiro Hino explained that while they felt the series had concluded beautifully with Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, Nintendo ("Company ‘N’") encouraged them to revisit the steampunk world.

Hino stated (as reported by AUTOMATON), "There hasn’t been a new title in almost 10 years. The series concluded briefly. Individuals within the industry really wanted us to release a new game… we had strong encouragement from Company ‘N’."

Nintendo's involvement is unsurprising, given their close ties to the franchise, which flourished on the Nintendo DS and 3DS. Nintendo published many Professor Layton titles and considers it a flagship DS exclusive.

Hino added, "Hearing this feedback, I thought it would be great to create a new game, allowing fans to experience the series at the quality level of the latest consoles."

A Glimpse into Professor Layton and the New World of Steam

Set one year after Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam reunites Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke Triton in Steam Bison, a vibrant American city powered by steam technology. They'll tackle a new mystery, involving, according to the trailer, Gunman King Joe, a "ghost gunslinger lost to progress."

The game will maintain the series' trademark challenging puzzles, this time enhanced by QuizKnock, renowned puzzle creators. This collaboration is particularly exciting for fans, especially following the mixed reception of Layton's Mystery Journey, which starred Layton's daughter.

Learn more about the gameplay and story of Professor Layton and the New World of Steam in our related article!