Level-5 (company)

Level-5 Inc.
Native name
株式会社レベルファイブ
Kabushiki gaisha reberu faibu
Company typePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedOctober 28, 1998; 26 years ago (1998-10-28)
HeadquartersFukuoka, Japan
Key people
  • Akihiro Hino
Products
Number of employees
300 (2024[1])
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.level5.co.jp

Level-5 Inc.[a] 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. Early in its history, the company enjoyed a close relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment, with many of its games then funded by and produced in conjunction with them. Level-5 began self-publishing its games in Japan by the late 2000s, with other companies such as Nintendo handling publishing worldwide. The company is best known for their Dark Cloud, Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, Ni no Kuni, Yo-kai Watch, and Snack World 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 their 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

Year Game Original platform(s)
2000 Dark Cloud[b] PlayStation 2
2002 Dark Chronicle[b] PlayStation 2
2004 Dragon Quest VIII[c] PlayStation 2
2005 Rogue Galaxy[b] PlayStation 2
2006 Jeanne d'Arc[b] PlayStation Portable
2007 Professor Layton and the Curious Village Nintendo DS
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box Nintendo DS
2008 Inazuma Eleven Nintendo DS
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future Nintendo DS
White Knight Chronicles[b] PlayStation 3
2009 Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales[12] Nintendo DS
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #1 and #2[12] Nintendo DS
Dragon Quest IX[13][c] Nintendo DS
Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales 2[12] Nintendo DS
Inazuma Eleven 2[12][14] Nintendo DS
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #3 and #4[12] Nintendo DS
Professor Layton and the Last Specter[12] Nintendo DS
2010 Inazuma Eleven 3[13] Nintendo DS
White Knight Chronicles II[b][15] PlayStation 3
Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn[13] Nintendo DS
Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories[13] Mobile phone
2011 Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask Nintendo 3DS
Danball Senki PlayStation Portable
Inazuma Eleven Strikers[16] Wii
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch PlayStation 3
Little Battlers eXperience Boost PlayStation Portable
Inazuma Eleven GO[17] Nintendo 3DS
Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 Xtreme Wii
2012 Girls RPG: Cinderellife[18][19] Nintendo 3DS
Ni no Kuni: Daibouken Monsters Mobile phone
Guild01 Nintendo 3DS
Little Battlers eXperience Nintendo 3DS
Time Travelers[20] Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Layton Brothers: Mystery Room Android, iOS
Little Battlers eXperience W PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita
Professor Layton and the Phantom Thieves Android, iOS
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney[20] Nintendo 3DS
Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Chrono Stone Nintendo 3DS
Inazuma Eleven GO Strikers 2013 Wii
Fantasy Life Nintendo 3DS
2013 Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy[21] Nintendo 3DS
Liberation Maiden iOS
Guild02 Nintendo 3DS
Earth Devastating B-Grade Girlfriend Z: Space War Android, iOS
Yo-kai Watch Nintendo 3DS
Little Battlers eXperience W: Super Custom Nintendo 3DS
Fantasy Life Link! Nintendo 3DS
Little Battlers eXperience: Wars Nintendo 3DS
Inazuma Eleven GO 3: Galaxy Nintendo 3DS
2014 Weapon Shop de Omasse Nintendo 3DS
Yo-kai Watch 2 Nintendo 3DS
2015 Yo-kai Watch Blasters Nintendo 3DS
Yo-kai Watch: Wibble Wobble[d][22] Android, iOS
Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version[e] Wii U
2016 Yo-kai Sangokushi[f] Nintendo 3DS
Yo-kai Watch 3 Nintendo 3DS
2017 Inazuma Eleven: Everyday+ Android, iOS
Layton's Mystery Journey Android, iOS, Nintendo 3DS
Snack World: Trejarers Nintendo 3DS
Otome Yusha[g] Android, iOS
Yo-kai Watch Busters 2 Nintendo 3DS
2018 Yo-kai Sangokushi: Kunitori Wars[f][23] Android, iOS
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Windows, PlayStation 4
Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl – Gold Nintendo Switch
Yo-kai Watch: Gerapo Rhythm Android, iOS
Yo-kai Watch World[h][24] Android, iOS
Fantasy Life Online[25] Android, iOS
2019 Yo-kai Watch 4[26] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
2020 Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y[27] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
2021 Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds[i] Android, iOS
Megaton Musashi[28] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
2022 Megaton Musashi Cross[29] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
2024 Megaton Musashi W: Wired Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows
2025 Professor Layton and The New World of Steam[30] Nintendo Switch
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time[31] Nintendo Switch
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road[32] Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
2026 DecaPolice[33] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
Inazuma Eleven RE[34] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
TBA Holy Horror Mansion[35] TBA

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: 株式会社レベルファイブ, Hepburn: Kabushiki gaisha Reberu Faibu
  2. ^ a b c d e f Published by Sony Computer Entertainment
  3. ^ a b Published by Square Enix
  4. ^ Co-developed by NHN PlayArt
  5. ^ Co-developed with Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Reflections, Ubisoft Montpellier, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Milan and Ubisoft Pune
  6. ^ a b Developed by Koei Tecmo
  7. ^ Developed by h.a.n.d.
  8. ^ Developed by GungHo Online Entertainment
  9. ^ Developed by Netmarble

References

  1. ^ "会社概要｜株式会社レベルファイブ" (in Japanese). Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "株式会社レベルファイブ".
  3. ^ a b c Hino, Akihiro; Iwata, Satoru (2010). "Iwata Asks: Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles, page 2". Iwata Asks. Nintendo of America Inc. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  4. ^ Cook, Chris (June 3, 2004). "True Fantasy Live Online Cancelled". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on June 4, 2004. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  5. ^ "How Yasumi Matsuno Ended Up at Level-5". June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on June 30, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  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. ^ Galiz-Rowe, Ty (October 12, 2020). "Ni No Kuni Developer Level-5 Is Shutting Down In North America-Report". GameSpot. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  10. ^ Mateo, Alex (October 15, 2020). "Level-5 Opens 'Manga 5' Website with 9 New Manga on October 15". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Level-5's ROID Service Kicks Off Today -- Andriasang.com". December 24, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Level-5 International America History & Products 2009". 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d "Level-5 International America History & Products 2010". 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  14. ^ "In shops now: Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm and Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard". 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  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" (in Japanese). News.dengeki.com. June 27, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  17. ^ "3DS Inazuma Eleven Due This Winter". June 19, 2011. Archived from the original on June 19, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ^ "Level-5 Bringing Mobile Hostess Sim to 3DS (andriasang.com, 10.20.2010)". October 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ^ "Girl's RPG Cinderelife - In Development". Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  20. ^ a b GUEST. "Level-5 Vision 2010 Live Blog (andriasang.com, 10.19.2010)". Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  21. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (2011). "First Professor Layton Crosses One Million". Adriasang. Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  22. ^ "Yo-kai Watch: Wibble Wobble". yo-kai-wibblewobble.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  23. ^ Romano, Sal (January 11, 2018). "Yo-kai Sangokushi: Kunitori Wars now available in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  24. ^ Sato (June 27, 2018). "Yo-kai Watch World For Smartphones Is The Series' Take On Pokémon GO". Siliconera. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  25. ^ Sato (July 18, 2018). "Fantasy Life Online Goes Live In Japan On July 23". Siliconera. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  26. ^ Sato (December 5, 2019). "Yo-kai Watch 4++ Released Today In Japan, Here's Its Opening Movie". Siliconera. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  27. ^ Romano, Sal (March 11, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu announced for PS4, Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  28. ^ Romano, Sal (August 5, 2021). "Megaton Musashi launches November 11 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  29. ^ Stenbuck, Kite. "Megaton Musashi Cross launches as a F2P title for PS4 & Switch on December 1 in Japan". RPGSite. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  30. ^ Romano, Sal (February 8, 2023). "Professor Layton and The New World of Steam announced for Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  31. ^ Torres, Josh. "Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time rescheduled to an April 2025 release and reveals vast open world area | RPG Site". www.rpgsite.net. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  32. ^ Torres, Josh. "Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road set to release in June 2025 worldwide simultaneously for PS5, PS4, Switch, PC, and mobile". RPG Site. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  33. ^ Tolentino, Josh. "Level-5 pushes DecaPolice into 2026, commits to PC release and simultaneous anime adaptation | RPG Site". www.rpgsite.net. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  34. ^ Torres, Josh. "Inazuma Eleven Re remakes the first Inazuma Eleven title that is coming to PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC in 2026 | RPG Site". www.rpgsite.net. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  35. ^ "LEVEL-5 announces 'Ghost Craft RPG' cross-media project Holy Horror Mansion". Gematsu. September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.