Just recently during a livestream Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino announced that they are working on a new entry into the Professor Layton franchise. It will be a full main series release in other words not another mobile game. This time Professor Layton will not be the main character nor will it be his son Alfendi who starred in the mobile spin off game "Layton Brothers: Mystery Room" Hino revealed.

Not much was given in terms of clues of who the new protagonist might be. Many people's first guess is likely Professor Layton's assistant/apprentice Luke Triton but nothing was said about whether he will appear in the game at all along with any other major characters. The only hint we have about the new game is some concept art. Some of the character art stood out to me seeming like it could be of the new protagonist:

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She has that thinking pose similar to Professor Layton and with the rising popularity of female leads in games it seems like it could fit. This is all complete speculation on my part though. We will likely find out who the protagonist will be as more details on the game will be revealed next month on July 27th during the Level-5 Vision event. Also for those of you interested, you can see the other concept art here: http://gamestalk.net/layton/

What are your reactions? Excited? Who do you think the new protagonist will be? I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

I never got to play this game when I wanted to years ago. You know like the first one. How I first saw it was on tv as an advert and I still remember it as clear as day. Not ever forgetting. Anyways I'm not surprised I'm sure this game will be amazing a well. And it seems they are adding in some twists to do with the storyline. Sadly I can't remember as I will have to read up on it again. Wonderful article as always zlinqx.

HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYPE : D

I was with the Professor Layton games since day one. Although the only reason I wanted to play them was quite literally because they included everything I ever wanted in a video game: Top Hats, English-Tea-Drinking-Gentlemen, and logical puzzles. I was young, don't judge me : P
It was a little sad when the series came to a end with the Lost Future (or whatever regional translational it was), and doubly so when The Azran Legacy nailed down there would be no more Professor Layton Games, but it was a satisfying end on both the originals and the prequels. Another one to fill the void and to gain some puzzling inspiration would be nice, and quite possibly nostalgic. I don't mind Layton not being the main character, but a cameo would be appreciated by the fans.

So yeah, if this happens it'll make my year : 3

I love the Professor Layton series! The mannars, the tea, the puzzles, THAT! FREAKING! STORY!!!!

Needless to say now is time for...

THE LEVEL 5 RANT PLSGIBEMEDACLICKSPLS

What the heck have they done to the series? I personally do not consider the Layton Bros Mystery Room canon. Why? Well, Alfendi looks nothing like Layton in the slightest, nor does he act in any way like his father. Not only this, but the series ends with very much the opposite of a love interest for good ol' Hershel Layton. So we're just supposed to expect he just got married to some totally random girl offscreen? You can't do that to us. It's a level of bitterness in me that only Chrono Cross replicated.
They did another mobile game too, the one with the dog, zombie, and taxi driver...What the heck was that? My biggest problem with that and Mystery Room is simply...Why are they calling them Layton games? They aren't. They are puzzle games, but they are NOT Layton, and they need to stop pretending they are, or throwing a good story by itself, lazily clipping the Layton name onto it, and hoping it sells better. And creating a freaking black hole in the canon by doing so.

Okay rant over. I am excited to see this game! I just hope it has something to do with Professor Layton. Maybe it could follow Luke and Floria? Maybe we can have another adventure with Emmy, and see what she's been up to? Maybe the girl in the sketches is a new design for her? I don't know, but I'm excited!

I know that people love Professor Leyton but honestly I really wish that instead of that and I Inazuma Eleven they would make Dark Cloud 3 and Fantasy Life 2 (Not a terrible mobile version), they're one of my favorite developers, but I'm itching for more cartoon/Anime action RPG's to play.