Ni no Kuni hits US this winter, Europe in 2013

The Western world will have to wait a little longer for Studio Ghibli's first gaming collaboration. Namco Bandai today announced that Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch for the PlayStation 3 will launch in North America in winter 2012, with a European debut following in 2013.

Ni no Kuni comes from Professor Layton developer Level-5 in collaboration with Studio Ghibli, the production house behind decorated Hayao Miyazaki films, such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl's Moving Castle. The animation studio's part in this project includes character designs and animation, with music from composer Joe Hisaishi.

Level-5 is known for its work on the Dragon Quest series, and Ni no Kuni will stick close to the studio's specialty of role-playing games. The story follows Oliver, a young boy on a quest to become a master magician in an effort to return his dead mother from a parallel world called "Ni no Kuni."

For more on Ni no Kuni, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.