Level-5 Has Closes U.S. Division

It would seem that the U.S. division of Level-5 has been shutdown. Level-5 is best known for the critically acclaimed Ni No Kuni series and Professor Layton and Yo-Kai Watch. While the company has yet to release an official statement, multiple sources from GamesIndustry confirmed that Level-5 International America and its spin-off office, Level-5 Abby, began winding down operations sometime earlier this year, including multiple layoffs.

GameIndustry‘s sources say that about 10 people were let go from both divisions, including Level-5 Abby COO, Yukari Hayakawa. “Those connected to Abby say that employees were “given every indication” that the studio would be closing down,” senior staff writer Rebekah Valentine reports. “With one or two employees remaining for a few more months to carry out essential functions throughout the process while the company consolidated its business between the Japan office and international advertising and branding company Dentsu.” They have also stated that no games are currently planned for a U.S. release.

If the reports are correct, it will leave future U.S. releases of games from the studio up in the air. This would include the localizations of games, including Yo-Kai Watch 4 (which was announced for U.S. released back in 2019), the upcoming Ni No Kuni mobile spin-off, and the delayed Inazuma Eleven: Heroes Great Road.