Layton Series Hits 9.5M, Ace Attorney 3.9M

Following the announcement of the tentatively-titled Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright for 3DS, co-developer Capcom revealed strong sales of both the Layton and Ace Attorney series. The Osaka-based publisher said today that Level-5's Professor Layton puzzle-adventure series has sold 9.5 million units worldwide through September this year since the franchise's debut in February 2007. Capcom's Ace Attorney series, which includes the original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and spin-offs such as Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, has sold a total of 3.9 million units globally through September. The first title in the series hit shelves in October 2001 in Japan -- today Capcom called the franchise one of the publisher's "strongest intellectual properties." The official Capcom press release for Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright described the premise: "Defense attorney Phoenix Wright, archeologist Hershel Layton, and other major characters from both series will be transported to a surreal medieval city, where they must work together to solve contradiction-filled puzzles in order to solve the larger mystery at hand." News of the new collaboration -- described as a "puzzle-solving courtroom adventure" -- first emerged at Level-5's Vision conference, where the company unveiled numerous games for the 3DS. Both the Ace Attorney and Layton series gained popularity with their releases on the Nintendo DS. Capcom stated, "We feel that by drawing upon the strengths of both series, this collaboration will bring new, casual game players to the adventure game genre and into the world of gaming in general while strengthening the value of the two brands overall." The release date is to be determined, and there is no specific word of a U.S. release.