It's all kicking off
- by Alana Hagues
Level-5 has finally shared the release date for Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, along with a few surprises, including a Nintendo Switch 2 version.
The long-awaited soccer game, which has been in development since at least 2016, will be landing on Switch and Switch 2 on 21st August 2025 as a digital-only game. On Switch, it'll be $69.99 for the standard edition or $79.99 for the Deluxe Edition. The Switch 2 price hasn't been confirmed yet.
Pre-order bonuses will net you a Bracelet of Victory, the Dark Emperors kit, and a set of training beans. If you want the Deluxe Edition, you'll also get an unlock item for Fei Rune, a Promise Pendant (to boost experience), a new goal celebration, a football club room, and a Rai Rai Noodles store.
In a huge 19-minute rundown of the game, Level-5 detailed that the Switch 2 version will feature Mouse Mode and GameChat support, higher frame rate, HDR, and higher resolutions. And for all versions of the game, cross-play and cross-save is available. Hurrah!
We've also got a detailed post-launch game map which extends all the way to 2026, Early Access will start on 18th August (though it doesn't appear to be available on Switch or Switch 2), while new routes will arrive in Chronicle Mode.
In the run-up to the game's release, Level-5 will be dropping a Making-of Trailer in May, a Story Trailer in June, and the Final Trailer at the end of July. We're in the home stretch, folks.
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road was scheduled for sometime this June, but this new — hopefully final — date confirms it's been pushed back just a little bit more. It's been delayed a number of times over the years, but Level-5 seems to be aiming for a blow-out year this year.
The developer is also launching Fantasy Life i this May, and a brand new Professor Layton game, The New World of Steam, is also coming to Switch and Switch 2 in 2025.
Are you excited to grab the new Inazuma Eleven game? Will you be getting it on Switch 2? Kick off in the comments
[source youtu.be]
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About Alana Hagues
Alana has been with Nintendo Life since 2022, and while RPGs are her first love, Nintendo is a close second. She enjoys nothing more than overthinking battle strategies, characters, and stories. She also wishes she was a Sega air pirate.
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Comments 22
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- AlleyCat
The price is high and only digital, for all platforms. There is a lot of content, it's true, but the demo version didn't excite me that much. I think I'll wait for some discount offer to buy it.
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- JohnnyMind
Just like other third-party games coming to both Switch 1 and 2 I need to know is if there will be a free/paid upgrade for the former to the latter or I have to straight up get the Switch 2 version - that said, one way or the other I'm on board (eventually, will wait for a discount like I usually do for digital-only games) and I'm glad that this finally has a release date!
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- Vyacheslav333
70$USD for the base game? AHAHAHAHAHA, Level-5...
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- MasterVGuides
@JohnnyMind Gematsu reports that it's a paid upgrade to go from Switch to Switch 2, unlike the PS4/5 versions, which are a free upgrade. Also, the Switch 2 version is a little more expensive in Japan, so there might be a chance that it's a little more expensive in the west, too, but no pricing for the Switch 2 versions are known for the west.
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- MrGawain
Let’s be honest, aside from the hardcore audience no one is going to consider buying this at that price, especially tucked away on the eshop. It’s not even like recent Inazuma games (anything after the DS games) have been applauded for their quality.
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- the_beaver
Fantasy Life - May
Inazuma Eleven - August
Professor Layton - November?
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- darkswabber
Wonder if Professor Layton will also be €70 on Switch 1 and €80 on Switch 2.
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- DarkTron
@MrGawain 1). "recent" is 2011/2014, over 10 years ago
2). Beyond the power-ups in the second game of GO being considered OP and "spammy" by the community (all just resulting in extra Special Move bars), there was an upgrade in quality in the GO era.
3). You're basing your "facts" off clear personal opinion.
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- Kidfunkadelic83
Yeah, ok. PS5 it will be then.
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- Alcea
Oh god FINALLY !
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- UltimateOtaku91
Why not mention it's a paid upgrade for the Switch 1 to Switch 2 version but it's a free upgrade from the PS4 to PS5 version? Makes absolutely no sense unless Nintendo are forcing developers to charge for upgrades as they know they will get a cut.
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- Ulysses
Yeah this is looking really bad when PS4/PS5 upgrades are free and Nintendo's are paid. The Nintendo tax is about to get its own upgrade for the Switch 2 era.
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- Fake-news
Buying the NS2 but not many games it seems…
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- Wisestfool
I had fun with the first Inazuma Eleven that released out West, but didn’t stick with it to finish it. $70 is steep, but not unreasonable given the amount of content in the game that shapes itself to be forever game. But with the sheer amount of customization in it, I doubt I would enjoy online play. I expect I would either face min-maxers with players that completely outclass my own or I would be the min-maxer and roll over casual players.
And I really dislike the main character’s Raggedy Andy with aqua hair design. No physical is a shame and I disagree that the online cross-play nature of the game necessitates it.
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- stocko
No physical made this a 'wait for discount' 😔. I was hoping at least Japan would get one with multi language! I gonna wait, as they could do one down the line (Limited Run? 🤔), we shall see!
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- Siegdroid
This gives a lot of courage for professor Layton to become Paytone…
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- Bizzyb
Can't wait for DecaPolice to finally be reintroduced as a Switch 2 title.
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- HeeHo
While Fantasy Life is day one assuming its good this is for sure a heavy discount release for me.
Wake me when its £20
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- VoidofLight
I'm not really interested in this game. Level 5 confirmed that they're using Generative Ai for the crowds in this one, and it just looks like a ton of reused content that got higher resolution art due to Ai upscaling.
I feel like Fantasy Life i might be the last Level 5 game I ever buy honestly. It seems like the only one untouched by the stain of Gen Ai.
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- inenai
This looks SO good and I don't even like soccer!!
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