Professor Layton Was Supposed to End Until Nintendo Stepped In

Professor Layton, the master of puzzles and deduction, is returning for a brand new adventure, and we have Nintendo to thank! Read on to discover how LEVEL-5's CEO revealed the story behind this long-awaited sequel.

Professor Layton’s Puzzle-Solving Adventures Continue

A Little Help from ‘Company N’

After a nearly decade-long absence, Professor Layton is back! At Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2024, LEVEL-5, the creators of the beloved puzzle-adventure series, shared the inside 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 revealed that while they considered the prequel, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, a satisfying conclusion, the influential "Company ‘N’"— widely understood to be Nintendo—encouraged them to revisit the steampunk world of Professor Layton.

"The series concluded, almost 10 years ago," Hino stated, as reported by AUTOMATON. "However, certain individuals within the industry strongly desired a new game…we received significant encouragement from Company ‘N’."

Given Nintendo's close ties to the franchise—publishing many titles and recognizing its significance as a DS/3DS exclusive—their involvement is unsurprising. The series thrived on those platforms.

"Considering this feedback," Hino explained, "I felt creating a new game, leveraging the quality of the latest consoles, would allow fans to enjoy the series to the fullest."

Exploring Professor Layton and the New World of Steam

Set a 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 Gunman King Joe, a "ghost gunslinger lost to progress," as revealed in the latest trailer.

The game retains the series' signature challenging puzzles, this time enhanced by QuizKnock, renowned for their innovative brain teasers. This collaboration is especially exciting for fans, following the mixed reception of Layton’s Mystery Journey, which starred Layton's daughter.

Learn more about the gameplay and story in our dedicated article!