In a recent chat with 4Gamer, Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has looked back at how much the gaming world has shifted over the last ten years, recalling a time when the studio was pumping out big hits year after year across its popular franchises. Hino spoke with the publication, touching on the company’s history and the challenges of today’s game creation.
“There was a period when we were bringing out new games nearly every year. That included Inazuma Eleven and Yo-kai Watch as well. It felt like a dream, or maybe more like a nightmare (laughs),” Hino remarked, highlighting how higher demands for game quality and production have really impacted development timelines.
“As time went on, the methods for making games and the quality standards have evolved, and before long, we found ourselves in the slower rhythm we have today.”
“We’re now in a time where games just don’t cut it commercially unless they meet a certain level of quality. I believe every team is struggling with this,” Hino elaborated. He also thinks that going forward, the company will need to figure out smarter ways to trim development periods.
Level-5 isn’t new to lengthy development times and frequent delays, with a prime example being the studio’s handling of its latest major release, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road. First revealed in 2016 with an initial launch window of 2018, the game’s creation suffered a series of setbacks and even a restart under a new name before it finally hit shelves in August 2025. Other key Level-5 titles such as Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time also faced similar repeated postponements.
Thankfully, the wait for Victory Road was worthwhile, as the game sold 800,000 copies worldwide from the moment it launched. Now, Level-5 aims to solidify the franchise’s comeback (something Hino had wanted to tackle properly for ages) without making fans endure another decade of waiting.
Hino sees the mobile game Inazuma Eleven Cross as a key component of that comeback strategy, and explains releasing it in 2026
was a strategic move because football fever hits its peak every four years (a nod, it seems, to the World Cup cycle). Reportedly, the studio plans to deliver version updates every 1-3 months, plus regular features and major updates every six months to build a strong presence in Japan before moving overseas. Hino also noted that this isn’t the final piece of the comeback puzzle for the year.
“Naturally, we’re not stopping with just Victory Road and Inazuma Eleven Cross. I expect we’ll make another major announcement about Inazuma Eleven within a year.”
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road sequel is in the works, Level-5 President Akihiro Hino confirms