Layton's Return: Nintendo Revives Beloved Professor

Professor Layton is polishing his magnifying glass and honing his intellect for a brand new adventure, and it’s all thanks to Nintendo. Read on to learn more about what LEVEL-5's CEO said about how the long-awaited sequel came to fruition.

Professor Layton’s Puzzle-Solving Adventures Aren't Over YetIt’s All Thanks to ‘Company N’, said LEVEL-5 CEO

After nearly a decade-long break, Professor Layton is finally making a comeback, and it appears we owe a debt to a certain mustachioed gaming behemoth. During Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2024, LEVEL-5, the studio behind the aforementioned puzzle-adventure franchise, disclosed some internal deliberations that culminated in 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 revealed that while they felt the series had reached a "satisfying" conclusion with the prequel game Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, the highly influential "Company ‘N’"—generally understood as Nintendo—urged the studio to revisit the Steampunk world of Professor Layton.

"There hasn’t been [a new title] in almost 10 years. The series concluded temporarily," said Hino, according to AUTOMATON. "Certain individual(s) from the industry really wanted us to release a new game… we had considerable impetus from company ‘N’."

Nintendo’s role in the game’s revival makes sense given their strong association with the franchise, which flourished on the Nintendo DS and 3DS platforms. Nintendo not only published numerous Professor Layton titles but also values the series highly as one of the DS’s exceptional exclusive titles.

"When I heard this feedback, I began to think it would be beneficial to create a new game so that fans could appreciate the series at the quality level offered by the latest console," Hino said.

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam Overview

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, set a year after the events of Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, reunites the titular professor and his loyal apprentice Luke Triton in Steam Bison, a thriving American city brimming with steam-powered technology. Together, they'll embark on a new adventure to solve a perplexing mystery, and according to the game’s latest trailer, it involves Gunman King Joe, a "phantom gunslinger lost to the relentless march of progress."

The title will continue the series’ tradition of challenging puzzles, this time designed with help from QuizKnock, a team renowned for creating innovative brain teasers. Fans are particularly excited about this collaboration, especially after the previous game, Layton’s Mystery Journey, which starred Layton’s daughter Katrielle, received mixed reviews due to its altered focus.

Check out our article below to learn more about Professor Layton and the New World of Steam's gameplay and story!