Fans eagerly awaiting the long-delayed Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road can now look forward to a new way to experience its story, as Level-5 has announced a manga adaptation of the upcoming soccer RPG. The manga, drawn by veteran mangaka Tenya Yabuno, is set to begin serialization in the December 2025 issue of CoroCoro Comics, aligning with the game’s current release target of November 13, 2025.
Tenya Yabuno Returns to the Inazuma Eleven Universe
Tenya Yabuno, a familiar name to Inazuma Eleven enthusiasts, will be at the helm of the manga adaptation. Yabuno previously penned the manga series for the original Inazuma Eleven and Inazuma Eleven Go, along with other popular titles like Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01 and Pokemon Horizon. His return signals a continuation of the artistic style and storytelling that fans have come to associate with the franchise’s manga iterations. The new manga will appear from the December 2025 issue of CoroCoro Comics, with other sources indicating a launch in the magazine’s next issue on November 14, the same day as the game’s release.
The manga adaptation is expected to follow the narrative of the Victory Road game, centering on protagonist Unmei Sasanami, a young boy who initially wishes for a world without soccer. He eventually crosses paths with Haru Endo, a soccer prodigy, setting the stage for the game’s overarching plot. The manga will also feature Jouji Sakurazaki, described as a belligerent striker.
A Long Road to Victory: The Game’s Development Journey
The announcement of the manga comes as the Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road game itself nears its highly anticipated launch after a protracted development cycle marked by numerous delays and title changes. First announced in 2016 as Inazuma Eleven Ares, the game underwent rebranding to Inazuma Eleven: Great Road of Heroes before finally settling on its current title.
The game, developed by Level-5, has seen its release date pushed back multiple times. Most recently, it was delayed from its August 21, 2025, target to November 13, 2025 (GMT). Level-5 cited reasons such as extensive voice recording and multilingual localization, including English, as primary factors for these adjustments, along with a commitment to further polish the game’s overall quality.
Game Features and Platforms
When it eventually arrives, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road promises a robust experience for players. The game is slated for release on a wide range of platforms, including Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Notably, previously planned versions for iOS and Android devices have been canceled, and the game will be available as a digital-only release.
The story mode introduces Unmei Sasanami in a fresh narrative that takes place 25 years after the first Inazuma Eleven game. Unmei, enrolling at South Cirrus Junior High, seeks a life away from football, only to encounter Harper Evans (also referred to as Haru Endo), a “Football Monster” from the prestigious Raimon Junior High. Beyond the new story, the game will feature a “Chronicle Mode” allowing players to relive past Inazuma Eleven matches and interact with over 4,500 characters from the series’ history.
Upcoming Live Stream to Provide Further Updates
To build further anticipation, Level-5 is scheduled to host an “INA-DAI” live stream for Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road on October 21, 2025. The broadcast will commence at 10:00 PM JST (6 AM PST/9 AM EST) and will be available on YouTube, where it is expected to provide the latest updates on the game’s Story Mode, Chronicle Mode, and Versus Mode. This live stream may offer additional insights into the game’s final polish and any last-minute announcements before its November launch.
