Why Professor Layton Fans May Want to Keep an Eye on September 21
Highlights Level-5 is scheduled to appear at the Tokyo Game Show, possibly to reveal more about the upcoming Professor Layton game. This announcement would be significant as it marks Professor Layton’s debut on the Nintendo Switch. While fans are eager for updates on Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, Level-5 may also provide news about other projects it is working on, such as a new Yo-Kai Watch game.
With a packed schedule planned for 2023’s Tokyo Game Show, fans of Professor Layton should tune in on September 21 as the series’ developer Level-5 has been slated to appear as part of the event’s schedule. Though there’s no official word on what the developer will be showcasing at the Tokyo Game Show this year, especially since Level-5 has several new or ongoing IPs like its Yo-kai Watch franchise, the planned appearance could bring an update on the Professor Layton series. More specifically, Level-5 might be preparing to reveal more about Professor Layton and The New World of Steam after teasing the game earlier this year.
Such an announcement would be huge for Professor Layton as the titular puzzle-solving professor hasn’t been seen since 2014 in his crossover with Ace Attorney on the 3DS. In fact, Professor Layton and The New World of Steam would be his debut on the Switch after its spin-off-like Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy seemed to fall just short of rebranding the series. As a result, many fans are eager to learn more about Level-5’s next Professor Layton game with the return of its original characters, an all-new steampunk world to explore, and many more puzzles to solve.
Level-5 Set to Appear at Tokyo Game Show 2023
With the event’s schedule spanning four days, many game developers and publishers are planning to appear such as Microsoft and Square Enix among other big names. Level-5 is set to appear alongside several of these on the first day of the Tokyo Game Show 2023 between Capcom and Sega, meaning the developer could be planning to showcase something significant to compete for the spotlight. As the Professor Layton series is arguably what introduced many gamers to Level-5, it stands to reason that the previously teased The New World of Steam will be in high demand.
However, while many fans might anticipate an update on the upcoming Professor Layton game, this isn’t the only franchise Level-5 has under its belt. Earlier this year Level-5 teased or confirmed several other projects that were in the works such as the development of a new Yo-Kai Watch game or that a previously canceled PSP game Ushiro would be coming to the Switch. With this in mind, it’s possible that Level-5’s appearance at the Tokyo Game Show 2023 could instead bring news on these or any other games that are in development either with or without an update on The New World of Steam.
Despite the other games Level-5 might be working on, Professor Layton and The New World of Steam is potentially the most in need of an update as its last appearance was at Level-5 Vision 2023 back in March. With Professor Layton’s previous appearance during Nintendo Direct just a month before that being the only other showcase of the new game, it has now been half a year without any further reveals. Even if Level-5 doesn’t plan to announce too much about The New World of Steam, it could still at least confirm some key details with the most crucial being its still unconfirmed release date.
Should Level-5 plan to reveal more about Professor Layton and The New World of Steam at the Tokyo Games Show 2023, then there are many pressing questions fans will be expecting answers to. For example, the new game has already been confirmed to take place a year after Professor Layton and the Unwound Future meaning there’s a significant time-skip to fill. More importantly, after Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy teased Professor Layton’s disappearance, it is currently unclear if a potential new Professor Layton trilogy on the Switch will address or even resolve this loose plot thread.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is in development for Nintendo Switch.