On Wednesday (14th), Level 5, in partnership with developer Aiming, officially announced a new chapter for one of its franchises most beloved by Brazilians. It is Inazuma Eleven: Cross, a free-to-play smartphone game that promises to revolutionize the series’ formula by swapping control of the players on the field for the strategic view of the coach. With a closed beta scheduled to begin in Japan on January 29th, the title arrives as the company’s bold bet to win back fans in 2026.
The announcement, made through a teaser and a special live stream, reveals that Inazuma Eleven: Cross will be free-to-play, meaning completely free to download, but will feature in-app purchases. In this way, Level 5 is pursuing an accessible business model that is already popular in Brazil. The major change, however, is in the gameplay: instead of controlling kicks and dribbles, you take on the role of coach, developing the team as a whole in a simulation experience focused on tactics and management.
An Expanding Universe and a Lot of History
It’s important to note that this new mobile game follows an independent path. Meanwhile, the characters from Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, the multiplatform title that arrived in November after years of delays, cannot be transferred to Cross. On the other hand, they will have their fate in a future sequel, indicating that the franchise is branching out. The long journey of Victory Road, originally planned for 2018 under a different name, served as a lesson for the company, which now seeks agility with this mobile project.
Furthermore, fans have another reason to celebrate this year of 2026. This is because a remake of the first game, called Inazuma Eleven RE, is also scheduled to arrive soon for Switch, PlayStation, and PC. Therefore, Level 5’s strategy seems clear: to cater both to those who want nostalgia with a quality remake, and to those seeking a new, fast-paced experience on their phones. In this way, the Brazilian passion for soccer and anime games may find a new home on smartphones.
