Level-5, the Japanese developer behind the
Professor Layton series and two
Dragon Quest games, plans to expand internationally, starting with a new Los Angeles office this September.
The independent studio's United States branch will be called Level-5 International America, according to a
Siliconera translation of a company statement. Next year, Level-5 will follow up with its first European office.
Founded in 1998, Level-5 first came to prominence with its well-received
Dark Cloud games. The company's profile grew even further when it was chosen by publisher Enix to develop
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, followed by
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies.
In 2007, the studio began taking on more duties in-house when it self-published
Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which has spawned several sequels. Nintendo published the games outside of Japan, but Level-5's decision to grow its international operations may signal the company's intention to broaden its publishing reach.
