Professor Layton and the New World of SteamExplainer
Release date
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam release date: Dec. 10, 2026, on Switch 2, Switch, PS5 and PC
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam comes out on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5 and PC through Steam, according to LEVEL5's official English site. It's an all-new game in the series starring Layton and Luke, who reunite after a year apart in Steam Bison, a booming steam-powered town in America. LEVEL5 hasn't announced a US price or opened pre-orders in the US, and our expected price is about $59.99. In Japan, the game costs 7,920 yen and early physical copies and digital pre-orders come with an 11-track soundtrack from earlier Layton games. The game supports English among 10 languages, carries the most puzzles in the series and has a theme song with music by Joe Hisaishi.
- Switch 2
- Switch
- PS5
- PC
Professor Layton returns in December, with Luke at the professor’s side again. Here’s when Professor Layton and the New World of Steam comes out, what it costs and what LEVEL5 has shown so far.
When does Professor Layton and the New World of Steam come out?
On Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5 and PC through Steam. LEVEL5 confirmed the date with a trailer released on Sept. 9, 2026. The game was first announced for Nintendo Switch, and the current platform list adds Switch 2, PS5 and Steam. There’s no Xbox version.
It’s been a long road. LEVEL5 originally scheduled the game for 2025, then on Sept. 25, 2025, moved it to 2026 to deliver it in the best possible form. Before that, it won the Future Division award at the Japan Game Awards 2024, a prize for unreleased games shown at Tokyo Game Show and chosen by fan votes and judges.
Price and pre-orders
As of Oct. 17, LEVEL5’s English site still lists the price as to be announced, and the game doesn’t show up on Nintendo’s US store or in Steam’s search, so there’s no way to pre-order it in the US yet. In Japan, it costs 7,920 yen including tax.
Expected price: about $59.99. That’s our estimate, based on the Japanese price and what new full-size console games from Japanese publishers usually cost in the US. The last Layton release on Switch, a 2019 Deluxe Edition of an earlier game, costs $39.99 on Nintendo’s US store, but New World of Steam is an all-new game on four platforms. LEVEL5 hasn’t announced an official US price.
On Oct. 9, 2026, LEVEL5 announced the Japanese bonus: the Series Sound Selection, a digital soundtrack with 11 songs from earlier Layton games that you can play in the game at any time. Early physical copies include a printed code while supplies last, and digital pre-orders get it if placed by Dec. 9, Japan time. LEVEL5 says digital pre-orders in Japan open later and hasn’t announced bonuses for other regions.
Does it have English?
Yes. LEVEL5 lists 10 supported languages: US and UK English, Japanese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Korean. It hasn’t said whether the game includes English voice acting. The cast announced so far is Japanese, with Yo Oizumi as Layton and Mio Imada as Luke, and the age rating is still pending.
Story: Layton and Luke in Steam Bison
Hershel Layton is a professor of archaeology at Gressenheller University and a leading authority on puzzles, famous across London for solving mysteries. Until a year before the story, the professor was rarely seen without Luke Triton. Luke now lives in America because of family circumstances and has earned the nickname Great Detective Luke by solving everyday mysteries around town. The two reunite in Steam Bison, a fast-growing steam-powered town.
The new faces include the Allinston twins, Elinora, a gentle inventor and skilled mechanic, and Elinora’s older sister, who is studying to become a stage actress. There’s also the town’s leading inventor, the richest man in Steam Bison, who effectively runs the town as chairman of the Gilded Council, a justice-driven sheriff who rides a steam bike, an eagle named Falcon who hates being mistaken for a vulture and a fortune-teller who keeps track of the puzzles you haven’t solved yet.
Puzzles, music and the demo
LEVEL5 calls it a puzzle-filled fantasy adventure, and the Japanese site says it has the most puzzles of any game in the series, which has sold more than 20 million copies. A well-known Japanese quiz team led by Takuji Izawa designed the puzzles.
The theme song, The New World, has music by composer Joe Hisaishi and lyrics and vocals by Lilas, also known as ikura of YOASOBI. LEVEL5 released a making-of video for the song on Sept. 10, 2026, during its LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II stream, where it also shared news on a remake of Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Visitors to Tokyo Game Show 2026 in September could play a demo, but LEVEL5 hasn’t announced a public one.
Our next Nintendo Direct page tracks Nintendo’s showcases. For the rest of the season, see our upcoming Switch 2 games and upcoming PS5 games lists.
This page is updated as soon as LEVEL5 announces a US price, pre-orders or a demo for Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.
Official images
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FAQ
When does Professor Layton and the New World of Steam come out?
On Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5 and PC through Steam, according to LEVEL5’s official English site.
How much is Professor Layton and the New World of Steam?
Expected price: about $59.99, our estimate. LEVEL5’s English site still lists the price as to be announced as of Oct. 17, 2026. In Japan, it costs 7,920 yen including tax.
Can I pre-order Professor Layton and the New World of Steam?
Not in the US yet. As of Oct. 17, 2026, the game doesn’t show up on Nintendo’s US store or in Steam’s search. In Japan, LEVEL5 announced bonuses for early physical copies and digital pre-orders on Oct. 9, 2026, and says the digital pre-order start date comes later.
What is the Professor Layton and the New World of Steam pre-order bonus?
In Japan, it’s the Series Sound Selection, a digital soundtrack with 11 songs from earlier Layton games that you can play in the game at any time. It comes as a printed code in early physical copies, while supplies last, and with digital pre-orders placed by Dec. 9, 2026, Japan time. LEVEL5 hasn’t announced bonuses for other regions.
Does Professor Layton and the New World of Steam have English?
Yes. LEVEL5 lists US English and UK English among 10 supported languages. It hasn’t said whether the game has English voice acting, and the cast it has announced is Japanese.
Is Professor Layton and the New World of Steam on Switch 2?
Yes. LEVEL5 lists separate Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch versions, both due Dec. 10, 2026.
Is Professor Layton and the New World of Steam on PS5 and PC?
Yes. LEVEL5 lists PS5 and Steam alongside the two Nintendo consoles. There’s no Xbox version announced.
Was Professor Layton and the New World of Steam delayed?
Yes. It was scheduled for 2025, and on Sept. 25, 2025, LEVEL5 moved it to 2026. The Dec. 10 date came with a trailer on Sept. 9, 2026.
Is there a Professor Layton and the New World of Steam demo?
LEVEL5 brought a playable version to Tokyo Game Show 2026 in September but hasn’t announced a public demo.
Who sings the Professor Layton and the New World of Steam theme song?
The theme song, The New World, has music by Joe Hisaishi and lyrics and vocals by Lilas, also known as ikura of YOASOBI.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
Where is Professor Layton and the New World of Steam set?
LEVEL5 says the story unfolds in Steam Bison, a fast-growing steam-powered town in America.
Your call
Will you play Professor Layton and the New World of Steam at launch?
