LEVEL-5 has announced Inazuma Eleven Ares, the seventh title in the Inazuma Eleven series that started on Nintendo DS in 2008
It has since sold more than eight million copies worldwide, and, in Inazuma Eleven Ares, the story will take place in a parallel world right after the events seen in the original Inazuma Eleven.
While all 11 members of Raimon Middle School football team are new characters, some popular characters will make an appearance. There will be three protagonists with the story developed from their separate points of view, while a new ‘Sponsorship’ system will be introduced where corporate entities can become official sponsors of the football teams – an aspect that will drive the story forward.
This will be a cross-media project, with a TV series to air in Japan next summer with plans for the game, toys and more to release afterward. That includes the Eleven Band, an NFC accessory that links with your game and helps strengthen your team by building individual skill parameters like speed, technique, and stamina.
The rollout plan outside of Japan hasn’t been determined, nor has the game’s platforms. But, given Inazuma Eleven’s history with Nintendo platforms, it seems to be a likely Nintendo NX candidate.
