Acquisition of Level-5 by Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Entertainment has announced it is to acquire Japanese RPG developer Level-5, Inc., the creator of hit video game franchises such as Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, and Yo-kai Watch.

The company, based in Osaka, will keep its name, and will continue to work on the above-mentioned franchises in addition to lesser-known titles such as Ni no Kuni.

"Level-5 is very successful and respected in the game development and publishing world," Warner Bros. chairwoman and CEO Ann Sarnoff stated. "They are a great fit for us and the right next step for Warner Bros as we grow into a significant presence in the games space."

Akihiro Hino, founder and CEO of Level-5, added: "Warner Bros has an extraordinary track record in nurturing and developing intellectual property in television, in movies and in games. That history combined with their world class distribution muscle promises a very exciting future for all of us at Level-5.”