Summary
Professor Layton and the New World of Steamis coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2025. Its release window was revealed as part of a new trailer that debuted duringLevel-5’s November 29 event dedicated to the upcomingProfessor Laytongame.
The latest entry in the iconic puzzle-adventure franchise that hit the market wasLayton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy, which launched on the 3DS back in 2017. More than half a decade later, Level-5 revealed thatProfessor Laytonis making a comeback on the Switchduring an early February Nintendo Direct.
But the game is still some way off from being completed, with its latest trailer revealing thatProfessor Layton and the New World of Steamis targeting a 2025 launch. Its official website was also updated with the new release window following the trailer’s debut. The wait betweenLayton’s Mystery Journeyand its follow-up will hence be around eight years long, which is double the length of the second-biggest gap between any two consecutive entries in the franchise.
That’s not to say that the nextProfessor Laytongame has actually been in the making for anywhere near as long; Level-5’s Switch titles historically took around three years to go from production to release, and although game development cycles have certainly gotten longer in recent times, there’s no indication thatProfessor Layton and the New World of Steamleft pre-production before 2022. The Japanese studio’s 300-strong workforce typically completes two or three games per year, with the newProfessor Laytoninstallment being its first title that’s confirmed to be targeting a 2025 release.
And while the series' comeback inspired some hope among the fandom that Level-5might treat the Switch to aProfessor Laytoncollection, there’s nothing to suggest that the developer actually plans to do so. On the contrary, given the company’s historical preference for announcing its projects years in advance, it’s unlikely that anything of the sort is currently in the works.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam Seems Like an Obvious Nintendo Switch 2 Release
As for the next entry in the franchise,Professor Layton and the New World of Steamis set to arrive at the tail end of the Switch’s life cycle. Specifically, numerous industryinsiders believe that the Switch 2 will launch in 2024, which suggests that the newProfessor Laytongame could be a cross-generation release even if Nintendo’s next console doesn’t end up offering backward compatibility. In the meantime, Switch gamers can look forward to three other Level-5 games scheduled for release throughout 2024:Megaton Musashi Wired,Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, andFantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time.
Professor Layton And The New World Of Steam
WHERE TO PLAY
The latest entry in Level 5’s Professor Layton franchise, Professor Layton and The New World of Steam has been announced for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
