In a recent interview with Famitsu, Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino confirmed that the Japanese developer awards salary increases to employees who perform well on an internal “content knowledge” test about the company’s games.
Level-5, best known for franchises such as Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven and Yo-kai Watch, has attracted attention for the policy and for comments on how the studio is approaching staffing and artificial intelligence.
Hino told Famitsu that Level-5 currently employs roughly 320 people and is not looking to expand rapidly.
He said the company is deliberately cautious about growth while embracing new tools: as operational tasks are increasingly automated by AI, what matters to the studio are employees’ commitment to games and their affinity for Level-5’s own works.
To that end, Hino explained, Level-5 administers a company content knowledge test and grants a salary increase to staff who score highly, regardless of their career level.
He emphasized that the test is intended to treat “knowledge of and love for the company’s works” as a workplace skill.
Famitsu’s published report notes that Hino did not disclose the exact monetary amount of the raise; he characterized it as sufficiently large to have a meaningful impact on staff morale.
Those details were omitted from the interview transcription published in Famitsu.
Industry reaction has been mixed in coverage.
Peter Glagowski, in reporting on the interview, questioned whether tying raises to a company quiz risks undervaluing technical ability, arguing that passion alone does not substitute for the skills required to develop games.
That critique reflects a broader conversation in games industry coverage about how studios should balance cultural fit, demonstrated knowledge, and technical competency in compensation and hiring.
The Famitsu interview comes amid continued public interest in Level-5’s flagship series.
Recent coverage has highlighted Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, a title that has been the subject of trailers and release-date updates in the press.
Level-5’s use of AI and internal policies on staffing and compensation will likely continue to draw attention as the company advances its projects and prepares future announcements.
Source: Famitsu interview with Akihiro Hino.
This article summarizes statements made by Hino and reporting by industry writers and does not invent undisclosed figures or details omitted from the original interview.
Level-5, best known for franchises such as Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven and Yo-kai Watch, has attracted attention for the policy and for comments on how the studio is approaching staffing and artificial intelligence.
Hino told Famitsu that Level-5 currently employs roughly 320 people and is not looking to expand rapidly.
He said the company is deliberately cautious about growth while embracing new tools: as operational tasks are increasingly automated by AI, what matters to the studio are employees’ commitment to games and their affinity for Level-5’s own works.
To that end, Hino explained, Level-5 administers a company content knowledge test and grants a salary increase to staff who score highly, regardless of their career level.
He emphasized that the test is intended to treat “knowledge of and love for the company’s works” as a workplace skill.
Famitsu’s published report notes that Hino did not disclose the exact monetary amount of the raise; he characterized it as sufficiently large to have a meaningful impact on staff morale.
Those details were omitted from the interview transcription published in Famitsu.
Industry reaction has been mixed in coverage.
Peter Glagowski, in reporting on the interview, questioned whether tying raises to a company quiz risks undervaluing technical ability, arguing that passion alone does not substitute for the skills required to develop games.
That critique reflects a broader conversation in games industry coverage about how studios should balance cultural fit, demonstrated knowledge, and technical competency in compensation and hiring.
The Famitsu interview comes amid continued public interest in Level-5’s flagship series.
Recent coverage has highlighted Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, a title that has been the subject of trailers and release-date updates in the press.
Level-5’s use of AI and internal policies on staffing and compensation will likely continue to draw attention as the company advances its projects and prepares future announcements.
Source: Famitsu interview with Akihiro Hino.
This article summarizes statements made by Hino and reporting by industry writers and does not invent undisclosed figures or details omitted from the original interview.
