“Significant” pay rises are on offer at Professor Layton developer Level-5 — if you can correctly answer questions about the company’s games.
That’s according to Level-5’s own CEO, Akihiro Hino, who has revealed that “knowledge quizzes” based on the developer’s own games unlock bumper pay rises at the Japanese studio — but only if staff get the answers right.
Headquarted in Fukuoka, with satellite offices in Tokyo and Osaka, Level-5 is perhaps best known for creating the puzzle adventures of Professor Layton, but it’s also behind the Pokémon-like RPG franchise Yo-kai Watch, anime soccer series Inazuma Eleven, and Studio Ghibli-esque role-player Ni No Kuni. So, if you know a lot about all of those, maybe take note…
Speaking to Japanese outlet Famitsu (via Automaton), Hino revealed the actual amount that existing employees can add to their salary by demonstrating a strong knowledge of the company’s products — and while this has not been publicly revealed, it was said to have astonished reporters.
While unusual, this gesture has a business purpose, Hino argued: that employees who are highly knowledgeable about the company can take on more work, or tutor others.
“If their knowledge is insufficient, we’ll need other team members to support them or review their work,” Hino explained. “On the other hand, if they do have that knowledge, they can take the lead and even streamline the workflow.
“In other words, I consider a person’s knowledge of and passion for the company’s games to be a genuine skill,” he continued. “When viewed as a company cost, it means we’re achieving efficiency gains that far exceed that amount.”
Level-5’s next launch of major note is Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, which is set to arrive on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2 at some point later this year. Aptly titled for a game arriving on PC via Steam, this is the first adventure in the series to launch for PC and PlayStation, while other titles have stuck with Nintendo handhelds and smartphones.
In contrast, PlayStation recently announced it would drastically reduce the number of employees at Bungie, following the decision to cease development on Destiny 2. Microsoft, meanwhile, is expected to reveal a “bloodbath” of layoffs as soon as next Monday, as it offloads studios and refocuses its remaining development teams around a handful of core franchises.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
