In a new interview with Famitsu Magazine, Level-5 president Akihiro Hino said that hopes the ending for the upcoming Professor Layton and the New World of Steam will “make people think a little.” While that sounds a little humorous out of context, Hino explains that the story for Layton’s return should raise interesting questions due to “our current age of AI.”
“The story this time is about humanity advancing civilization, to then over-indulge in those new technologies and face severe comeuppance,” Hino says. “I think in our current age of AI, the ending will make people think a little – overall I think we made a really good story.” That sounds great and all, but one has to remember that Level-5 is currently all-in on generative AI helping create new games. Who’s to say Layton wasn’t developed with it?
In terms of scale, Hino says this will be the biggest Layton game, but still a rather compact title. Level-5 is focusing more on including lots of puzzles rather than making a gigantic game world. “It is the most puzzles ever in the series,” Hino explains, “and the development of those is being handled by Quizknock, a group of people who enjoy quizzes so much they even hold their own quiz tournaments while working together… The game will be released simultaneously around the world, so the puzzles don’t use Japanese characters, but instead focusing on things to touch and move, putting weights on scales, and puzzles that require looking at a picture.”
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam release date
Currently, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is scheduled for a 2026 release on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
