: Level-5 has implemented a "malicious curse" anti-cheat system. Using data-altering mods or "leaked" tools to unlock characters early can result in a shadowban , where your characters suffer hidden stat penalties and you are flagged to other players in online lobbies. Why it was delayed (The "Leak" Context)

: Leaks accurately predicted the inclusion of Sonny Wright (Asuto Inamori) and his team, marking the first time these characters and their storyline were fully playable in a mainline video game rather than just an anime. The "Overburst" System

: Players can now experience the story of Sonny Wright (Asuto Inamori) and his teammates for the first time in a video game format.

Level-5 delayed the project repeatedly, citing quality concerns. By 2020, Ares was dead. In its place rose Inazuma Eleven: Great Road of Heroes (later simplified to Victory Road ). This new project scrapped the Ares battle system, rebuilt the graphics in Unity, and promised a chronicle mode featuring over 4,500 characters from the franchise’s history.

Furthermore, the leak has forced Level-5’s hand subtly. In a recent Corocoro interview (January 2025), when asked about the "Ares rumors," Hino responded cryptically: "We have not forgotten about that era. Please look forward to Victory Road 's 'Chronicle Mode'... it may have more than you expect."

Word of Inazuma City High spread through the Victory Road like a rumor made real. Some opponents tried to break their resolve with mind games: a rival coach whispering doubts about families, a player taunting Kenta’s injury. The tournament responded with illusions: visions on the pitch of past failures, teammates portrayed as betrayers. The players learned quickly: the road judged not by goals but by truth. Only those who could see through manufactured fears kept their footing.