The new Californian branch is about more than just localization.
Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has said that new, English-specific software will be developed at their North American branch.
Last year, Level-5 opened up a North American branch in Santa Monica, California, with plans of using the new office for localization of its Japanese titles. It has recently been revealed, however, that CEO Akihiro Hino has his sights on something much bigger.
In an interview with Japanese magazine Nikkei Trendy he says,
"We have five staff members at present. Titles that are being planned in the North American office are being developed in that region. The office staff is mostly Japanese, but we're using a style of development where we collaborate with local staff, so I believe we'll be able to make something that matches the North American market well."
It was also noted that Level-5's NA branch plan to delve into downloadable software for mobile phones and home consoles. When asked about the possibility of the company opening up offices in China due to their large mobile-savvy market, Hino said it would be difficult to do.
"I'd rather worry about creating interesting things, and in all honesty don't have a desire to tackle a market that has many difficulties. Because of this, I believe we can get results by focusing on the markets that we're looking at now, Japan, North America, Europe and so-forth."
More details will be revealed at this year's Level-5 Vision press conference.