Next Level Games

Corporate brand

Next Level Games is a Vancouver-based Canadian video-game developer known for console titles created primarily for Nintendo platforms.

Last updated August 25, 2026

AI crawler reads

No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.

Overview

Next Level Games, Inc. is a Canadian video-game development studio headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in August 2002 by former members of EA Black Box, the company was established by developers whose prior work included sports and action titles such as Sega Soccer Slam and games in the NHL Hitz series. The studio initially operated as an independent developer serving external publishers, but its later identity became closely associated with Nintendo and with the development of games based on major Nintendo properties. The company's first released project was NHL Hitz Pro, published by Midway Games in 2003. The title followed earlier NHL Hitz work associated with the founders' previous studio and gave Next Level Games an early position in the console sports market. The studio subsequently became involved with Nintendo after Nintendo approached it about developing a GameCube entry in the Mario Strikers series. The relationship reflected the team's experience with arcade-oriented soccer games, particularly Sega Soccer Slam, and led to the development of Super Mario Strikers for the GameCube. Next Level Games' Nintendo work expanded across several platforms and franchises. It developed Mario Strikers Charged for the Wii and later produced Mario Strikers: Battle League for the Nintendo Switch. The studio also developed Punch-Out!! for Wii, a revival of Nintendo's boxing series, and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon for Nintendo 3DS. Its work on Luigi's Mansion continued with Luigi's Mansion 3 for Nintendo Switch, one of the studio's most prominent releases. The company also developed Metroid Prime: Federation Force for Nintendo 3DS, extending its work into Nintendo's science-fiction action franchise. In January 2014, Next Level Games announced that it would work exclusively with Nintendo. This marked a major strategic change from its earlier multi-publisher history and made the studio a dedicated development partner for Nintendo software. The arrangement allowed Next Level Games to concentrate on Nintendo-owned characters, series, and hardware while retaining its role as a specialized development studio rather than a separately marketed consumer publisher. Nintendo announced in January 2021 that it had agreed to acquire Next Level Games. The transaction followed a decision by several owner-directors to sell their shares and an exploration of possible sale transactions by the studio. Nintendo's 2021 annual report recorded completion of the acquisition on March 31, 2021. Following the purchase, Next Level Games became a wholly owned Nintendo subsidiary while continuing to operate as a Vancouver-based development studio. Co-founder Tronsgard subsequently retired from the studio by March 2022. The studio has been recognized in Canadian employer rankings, including Canada's Top 100 Employers and British Columbia's Top Employers in selected years. It has also received coverage from Maclean's and BC Business. Its principal business remains the development of console video games, with its public profile centered on Nintendo platform software and established Nintendo franchises.

History

Next Level Games was founded in Vancouver in August 2002 by former members of EA Black Box. The founding team had experience with console development and with sports-oriented projects, including Sega Soccer Slam and entries in the NHL Hitz series. The new studio initially operated independently and sought work from established publishers. Its first released game was NHL Hitz Pro, published by Midway Games in 2003. The project connected the new company to the arcade-style ice-hockey tradition associated with its founders' earlier work. Next Level Games then gained a major relationship with Nintendo. According to accounts from co-founder Jason Carr and producer Ken Yeeloy, Nintendo approached the studio because of the team's experience developing Sega Soccer Slam. That relationship resulted in Super Mario Strikers for the GameCube, a soccer game using Nintendo characters and a more aggressive arcade-oriented design than a conventional simulation. The studio continued to develop console software across Nintendo hardware generations. Its Nintendo portfolio included Mario Strikers Charged on Wii, Punch-Out!! on Wii, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and Metroid Prime: Federation Force on Nintendo 3DS, and Luigi's Mansion 3 on Nintendo Switch. It also returned to the Mario Strikers series with Mario Strikers: Battle League for Switch. These projects established the company as a recurring developer for Nintendo-owned properties, particularly games requiring character animation, accessible controls, and energetic action-focused gameplay. In January 2014, Next Level Games stated that it would work exclusively with Nintendo. The announcement represented a significant change from the studio's early independent and multi-publisher model. Rather than maintaining a broad portfolio of publisher relationships, the company concentrated its development activity on Nintendo platforms and franchises. Nintendo announced in January 2021 that it would acquire the studio. The announcement said that a number of owner-directors had decided that the time was right to sell their shares and that the company had explored possible sale transactions. Nintendo's 2021 annual report identified March 31, 2021, as the completion date. Next Level Games therefore became a Nintendo-owned development subsidiary while remaining based in Vancouver. The studio's co-founder Tronsgard later retired by March 2022. The company has also appeared in Canadian workplace and business coverage. It was named among Canada's Top 100 Employers and among British Columbia's Top Employers in selected years, including 2008, 2009, and 2012. Its business profile has been covered by Maclean's and BC Business. Publicly available information primarily presents Next Level Games as a console-focused developer whose long-term commercial identity is tied to Nintendo.

2022
Co-founder retirement
[1]Next Level Gamesen.wikipedia.org
Co-founder Tronsgard was reported to have retired from the studio by March.
2021
Nintendo acquisition completed
[1]Next Level Gamesen.wikipedia.org
Nintendo completed its acquisition of Next Level Games on March 31, according to Nintendo's 2021 annual report.
2014
Exclusive Nintendo development announced
[1]Next Level Gamesen.wikipedia.org
Next Level Games announced that it would work exclusively with Nintendo going forward.
2003
NHL Hitz Pro released
[1]Next Level Gamesen.wikipedia.org
Midway Games published NHL Hitz Pro, the studio's first released project.
2002
Studio founded in Vancouver
[1]Next Level Gamesen.wikipedia.org
Former EA Black Box members established Next Level Games in August as an independent Canadian console-game developer.

Products and positioning

A specialist console-game development studio focused on polished, character-driven software for Nintendo platforms and franchises. Its portfolio combines arcade-style sports design with action-adventure and family-oriented Nintendo properties.

Sports video game · 2003
NHL Hitz Pro
Next Level Games' first released project, NHL Hitz Pro was published by Midway Games in 2003. It continued the studio's early connection to arcade-oriented hockey games and followed prior NHL Hitz-related work by members of the founding team.
Sports video game
Super Mario Strikers
A GameCube soccer title developed after Nintendo approached the studio because of its team's experience with Sega Soccer Slam. The game established Next Level Games as a developer of Nintendo character-based sports software.
Sports video game
Mario Strikers Charged
The studio's Wii follow-up in Nintendo's Mario Strikers series, extending its arcade-style soccer approach to a later Nintendo console.
Sports and action video game
Punch-Out!!
A Wii revival of Nintendo's boxing franchise developed by Next Level Games, combining character-driven presentation with timing-based boxing gameplay.
Action-adventure video game
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
A Nintendo 3DS entry in the Luigi's Mansion series developed by the studio. It expanded Next Level Games' Nintendo portfolio beyond sports titles into exploration, puzzle solving, and action-adventure design.
First-person action video game
Metroid Prime: Federation Force
A Nintendo 3DS title set in the Metroid universe and developed by Next Level Games, demonstrating the studio's work on a science-fiction action franchise.
Action-adventure video game
Luigi's Mansion 3
A Nintendo Switch installment in the Luigi's Mansion series and one of Next Level Games' best-known productions. It reinforced the studio's role as a developer of major Nintendo franchise software.
Sports video game
Mario Strikers: Battle League
A Nintendo Switch return to the Mario Strikers concept, continuing the studio's long-running association with arcade-style soccer built around Nintendo characters.

Brand decisions

2021
Nintendo acquires Next Level GamesM&A
Background
Several owner-directors decided to sell their shares, after which Next Level Games explored potential sale transactions.
Action taken
Nintendo announced the acquisition in January 2021 and completed the transaction on March 31, 2021, according to its annual report.
Aftermath
Next Level Games became a Nintendo-owned development subsidiary while continuing to operate from Vancouver.
Source
2014
Adopt exclusive Nintendo development strategyStrategy
Background
After developing games for more than one publisher during its early years, Next Level Games had developed a close relationship with Nintendo through the Mario Strikers and other projects.
Action taken
The studio announced that it would work exclusively with Nintendo from that point onward.
Aftermath
The company became identified primarily as a Nintendo platform and franchise development studio, later producing titles such as Luigi's Mansion 3.
Source

Recent events

2022
Next Level Games co-founder Tronsgard retires[1]Next Level Gamesen.wikipedia.org
Leadership change
Co-founder Tronsgard was reported to have retired from the studio by March 2022 after Nintendo had acquired the company.
2021
Nintendo announces acquisition of Next Level Games[1]Next Level Gamesen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Nintendo announced an agreement to purchase Next Level Games after the studio's owner-directors explored potential sale transactions. Nintendo's annual report recorded the transaction as completed on March 31, 2021.
2014
Next Level Games announces exclusive work with Nintendo[1]Next Level Gamesen.wikipedia.org
Other
The Vancouver studio announced that it would work exclusively with Nintendo, formalizing a strategic shift away from its earlier work for multiple publishers.

Sources10 sources

Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/next-level-games · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled