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Level-5 is aware its games “keep getting delayed,” but that lets the team deliver a quality game and drum up excitement for the final release date (via Nintendo Life).
Speaking to Famitsu in its latest issue, Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino discussed the company’s plans for the coming year. “I still can’t tell about things in detail, but other than games, anime, and movies, we’re also going to challenge new things so look forward to them,” said Hino. Formed in 1998, Level-5 made a name for itself around the world with its Dark Cloud, Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, Ni no Kuni, and Yo-kai Watch series. Its games are primarily for Nintendo platforms like the 3DS and the Switch, but it has PlayStation titles in its portfolio. As Inazuma Eleven: Heroes’ Great Road is slated to be released for Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 some time this year, it’s possible that the developer has an intention to make that game cross-generation compatible.
The launch of Inazuma Eleven: Heroes’ Great Road was meant to tie in with the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but its development suffered delays. It was then pivoted to a launch in 2019, however problems arose, and Level-5 pushed back the launch to 2020. The developer apologised at the time, but stated that the delay let the team switch to a fully in-house development system. As such, the game would be of higher quality with more exciting battles and online tournaments. Hino maintained that this was the right thing to do in the interview with Famitsu. “Our development for games keep getting delayed, so it continues to make all our fans worry, but I want to properly build up titles we’re currently working on,” explained the president and CEO.
Delays could be concerning, and it would have been good if the game and the anime could have released simultaneously, but stretching the schedule takes a lot of pressure off. Snapshot Games did the same with XCOM spiritual successor Phoenix Point, and so did Naughty Dog with The Last of Us Part II. When Inazuma Eleven: Heroes' Great Road does release, it will be the best it could be, which is only good news to fans of Level-5 games. It might arrive near the start of the 2020 Summer Olympics: “What kind of influence will Tokyo Olympics bring to the entertainment world? I want Japan’s image in the world to be changed to a better direction!”
