Level-5 Vision delays everything, showing a lack of vision
Level-5 hosted their latest Vision event overnight and sadly, their vision isn’t as clear as you might have hoped for as all their games have been delayed, some beyond 2024.
First up is Decapolice, which was due to release in 2023, given that there was only a month left, it was likely delayed and shock, it was.
ANNOUNCEMENT
— DECAPOLICE (@DECAPOLICE_EN) November 29, 2023
During "LEVEL5 VISION 2023 II," we announced a change in the release date for "DECAPOLICE" to 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Thank you for your patience.#DECAPOLICE
Whilst Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road was never specifically dated for 2023, the studio were hoping for it to be that date, as the game was first announced a decade ago. It has now slipped into 2024, but a network beta test is happening in March 2024 via Switch and will be open to all. Right now it is only dated for March, but a proper date should come before the month starts, you can keep up to date on it here. They did release a new trailer for the game, if you wanted to check that out.
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time was delayed from 2023 a few months ago, but instead of just 2024, we now have a new release window, Winter 2024.
One interesting element from the end of the trailer is that the Switch may no longer be the only platform to get the game. When this was announced, it was revealed as a Switch exclusive, but now the trailer states “Supported Platforms: Switch - Other platforms undecided”. Now that could mean they are thinking on others, or they know its going to mobile phones or others, but can’t say just yet. Either way, we got a new trailer to enjoy.
The only game to get a release date via the event was Megaton Musashi: Wired, which was delayed from 2023, but is now expected to release on April 25th, 2024. The game is coming to Switch, PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. A new trailer for the game is below.
Finally, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam has been delayed, but not until 2024 like the rest, but rather 2025. This one is still showing as a Switch exclusive, but it is unlikely the Switch will be the only Nintendo platform around in 2025, either way we have a new trailer for it below.
When Level-5 first announced most of these games and dated them for release in the same year, people were excited, but sadly I knew the truth, they are not a massive studio and these games look quite large. So developing all of them at the same time, whilst still being unable to ship Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road after years and year, it seemed too ambitious.
Turns out it was, and while I am all for developers taking the time to make the games they want, perhaps in future they should not put release windows on, until they are comfortable in the development process, that they can actually hit their planned release.
