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Level-5 (company)

Level-5 Inc. (株式会社レベルファイブ) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka. The company was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino after he departed from Riverhillsoft. Level-5 is known for its Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, Ni no Kuni, Yo-kai Watch, Snack World, and Megaton Musashi franchises.

History

Level-5 was established in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino and his development team at Riverhillsoft, following the release of OverBlood 2.[3] Since Hino did not originally believe that his team could become an independent developer, he formed a partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment, who would allow him to develop for its upcoming PlayStation 2 under the condition that he set up his own company.[3] The name, "Level-5", was a reference to Japanese school report cards, where "Level-5" is the highest possible mark. Soon after being created, the company had eleven employees.[3]

Level-5's first full-scale production was the action role-playing game Dark Cloud, developed under contract by Sony Computer Entertainment. Intended to be a launch game for the Japanese release of the PlayStation 2, it was delayed before the console's launch in March 2000 to allow further development, eventually being released in Japan in December 2000, and worldwide in 2001. Work immediately began on a sequel titled Dark Chronicle, released as Dark Cloud 2 in North America. The company was working with Microsoft Game Studios on an MMORPG for the Xbox, True Fantasy Live Online, before it was cancelled in 2004.[4]

Yasumi Matsuno, director of Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the Ogre Battle series, briefly joined Level-5 in June 2011,[5] and left the company after completing work on Crimson Shroud for the Nintendo 3DS.[6] By the early 2010s, Level-5 was one of the ten largest video game companies in Japan, holding a market share of 3.2%.[7] In October 2015, Level-5 founded a spin-off company in Santa Monica, in cooperation with Dentsu, called Level-5 Abby.[8] In October 2020, it was reported that the company's North American operations, including Level-5 Abby, were shutting down due to low sales.[9] The same month, Level 5 launched a manga publishing platform called "Manga 5".[10]

Roid service

In 2009, Level-5 launched its Roid (Revolutionary Original Ideas Discovery) service, a mobile phone application that serves as a content delivery platform for mobile games.[11] It is only compatible with NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile internet service in Japan. Users pay a monthly fee for access to exclusive games and social game functions. The platform debuted with six games: Sloan and McHale's Mystery Story, Professor Layton and the Mansion of the Mirror of Death Remix, Chara Jo P, Yuuenchi wo Tsukurō Revolution, Treasure Island, and Elf the Dragon. The first three were developed by Level-5, while the last three were developed by outside companies.[11]

List of games

All games were developed and/or published by Level-5 unless otherwise noted

External links

References

  1. 会社概要｜株式会社レベルファイブ retrieved August 19, 2024^
  2. 株式会社レベルファイブ^
  3. Iwata Asks: Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles, page 2 Iwata Asks, Nintendo of America Inc., 2010, retrieved December 8, 2011^
  4. Chris Cook. True Fantasy Live Online Cancelled Game Informer, GameStop, June 3, 2004, retrieved January 3, 2017^
  5. How Yasumi Matsuno Ended Up at Level-5 June 30, 2011^
  6. Yasumi Matsuno leaves Level 5 November 8, 2012^
  7. Market Data Capcom, September 30, 2013, retrieved August 28, 2014^
  8. LEVEL-5 abby Inc.^
  9. Ty Galiz-Rowe. Ni No Kuni Developer Level-5 Is Shutting Down In North America-Report GameSpot, October 12, 2020, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  10. Alex Mateo. Level-5 Opens 'Manga 5' Website with 9 New Manga on October 15 Anime News Network, October 15, 2020, retrieved August 6, 2023^
  11. Level-5's ROID Service Kicks Off Today -- Andriasang.com December 24, 2012^
  12. In shops now: Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm and Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard 2012, retrieved May 10, 2012^
  13. Level-5 International America History & Products 2009 2011, retrieved July 27, 2011^
  14. Level-5 International America History & Products 2010 2011, retrieved July 27, 2011^
  15. TGS 2009: White Knight Chronicles 2 Revealed Kotaku, September 24, 2009^
  16. 今度の敵は未来から!? 『イナズマイレブン』感謝祭で映画版・Wii版・第4弾を発表 - 電撃オンライン News.dengeki.com, June 27, 2010, retrieved August 1, 2013^
  17. 3DS Inazuma Eleven Due This Winter June 19, 2011^
  18. Level-5 Bringing Mobile Hostess Sim to 3DS (andriasang.com, 10.20.2010) October 22, 2010^
  19. Girl's RPG Cinderelife - In Development retrieved July 27, 2011^
  20. See Flit in action at age 22! Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Universe Accel and Cosmic Drive for PSP! July 3, 2012^
  21. "Gundam Age" Games Release Date Pushed Back July 24, 2012^
  22. GUEST. Level-5 Vision 2010 Live Blog (andriasang.com, 10.19.2010) retrieved February 5, 2014^
  23. Gantayat, Anoop. First Professor Layton Crosses One Million Adriasang, 2011, retrieved July 27, 2011^
  24. Yo-kai Watch: Wibble Wobble yo-kai-wibblewobble.com, retrieved June 25, 2017^
  25. Sal Romano. Yo-kai Sangokushi: Kunitori Wars now available in Japan Gematsu, January 11, 2018, retrieved January 23, 2018^
  26. Yo-kai Watch World For Smartphones Is The Series' Take On Pokémon GO Siliconera, June 27, 2018, retrieved July 11, 2018^
  27. Fantasy Life Online Goes Live In Japan On July 23 Siliconera, July 18, 2018, retrieved September 20, 2018^
  28. Yo-kai Watch 4++ Released Today In Japan, Here's Its Opening Movie Siliconera, December 5, 2019, retrieved March 1, 2020^
  29. Sal Romano. Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu announced for PS4, Switch Gematsu, March 11, 2020, retrieved March 11, 2020^
  30. Sal Romano. Megaton Musashi launches November 11 in Japan Gematsu, August 5, 2021, retrieved August 5, 2021^
  31. Kite Stenbuck. Megaton Musashi Cross launches as a F2P title for PS4 & Switch on December 1 in Japan RPGSite, retrieved September 17, 2022^
  32. Sal Romano. FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time launches May 21 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Switch, and PC Gematsu, February 14, 2025, retrieved April 14, 2025^
  33. Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road Game's Trailer Reveals August 21 Release, New Platform Lineup Anime News Network, 2025-04-12, retrieved 2025-04-14^
  34. Sal Romano. Inazuma Eleven: Cross announced for iOS, Android Gematsu, January 13, 2026, retrieved January 27, 2026^
  35. Sal Romano. Inazuma Eleven RE adds Switch 2 version, drops PS4; DECAPOLICE adds Switch 2 version, drops PS4 and Switch Gematsu, April 10, 2026, retrieved April 11, 2026^
  36. Sal Romano. Professor Layton and the New World of Steam adds PS5 and PC versions, launches in late 2026 Gematsu, April 10, 2026, retrieved April 11, 2026^
  37. Sal Romano. LEVEL-5 and NHN PlayArt announce ‘fusion puzzle’ game Pufflings: Journey Through a Fantasy World for iOS, Android Gematsu, April 10, 2026, retrieved April 11, 2026^
  38. Sal Romano. Snack World: Reloaded announced for PS5, Switch 2, and PC Gematsu, April 10, 2026, retrieved April 11, 2026^
  39. Sal Romano. Holy Horror Mansion – LEVEL-5 Vision 2026 teaser trailer Gematsu, April 10, 2026, retrieved April 11, 2026^
  40. Sal Romano. LEVEL-5 president Akihiro Hino has begun writing Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road sequel Gematsu, 13 January 2026, retrieved 27 January 2026^