UPDATE: Nintendo has confirmed that the Legend of Zelda Wii U port won’t be showcased at E3 2015.

Original story is as follows.

The Legend of Zelda Wii U port has been delayed, and won’t be releasing in 2015 after all.

The news comes straight from game producer Eiji Aonuma who announced the push back in a recent video update.

Aonuma cites the reason for the delay is that the development team has “discovered new possibilities for the game”, and the timeframe constricts on the new content they could add to make Zelda on Wii U the “complete and ultimate Zelda game”.

“Since I declared at The Game Awards in December that the game would launch in 2015, the directors and the many members of the development team have been working hard developing the game to make it the best it can be.

“In the last three months, as the team has experienced firsthand the freedom of exploration that hasn’t existed in any Zelda game to date,we have discovered several new possibilities for this game.

“As we have worked to turn these possibilities into realities, new ideas have continued to spring forth, and it now feels like we have the potential to create something that exceeds even my own expectations.

“As I have watched our development progress, I have come to think that rather than work with meeting a specific schedule as our main objective, and releasing a game that reflects only what we can create within that scheduled time…

“I feel strongly that our focus should be to bring all these ideas to life in a way that will best make The Legend of zelda on Wii U to be the best game it can possibly be.

“So, I must apologize to you all that were expecting the game by year’s end, but we are no longer making a 2015 release our number one priority.

“Instead, our priority is to make the most complete and ultimate Zelda game.

“I hope to use the added time to make The Legend of Zelda for Wii U into a game that will reward you for your patience, so thank you for your continued support.”

The news comes as a big disappointment to Wii U fans that were looking forward to the game this year, myself included. Some fans even rushed to buy the console after seeing the footage, and will undoubtedly be let down with the news.

The new open-world Legend of Zelda on Wii U represents a huge leap forward for the franchise, and Aonuma showcased an playthrough at The Game Awards 2014 that delved into the game’s expansive feel.

Seeing how huge the scope is for the game, it’s not surprising to see it get delayed. Creating and shaping such a substantial game world is no easy feat, and hopefully Aonuma can provided more

Many are speculating that the delay signifies that the new Zelda port will see a release on Nintendo’s mysterious new NX console, but the Japanese company hasn’t revealed anything yet and probably won’t until 2016.

At least Xenoblade Chronicles X is still on schedule for a 2015 release, and we’ll have Splatoon in May, but the new Zelda was one of this year’s premiere Wii U titles.

The post Zelda Wii U Delayed, Isn’t Coming in 2015 appeared first on VR World.

Remember when the internet exploded with reports of a live-action Netflix series based in Hyrule? Not only did it look like we’d see the iconic fairy tale world come to life before our eyes, but it looked like the show would have distinct Game of Thrones elements to boot.

Imagine a Legend of Zelda TV show with real-world actors reenacting some of the most storied events in gaming history. The IP is prime source material to tap, providing a rich vein of interweaving lore, iconic characters, and unique locales for any expanded medium.

Ahhh…it seemed to good to be true. And why? Because it actually is to good to be true.

In a recent interview with TIME, Nintendo (TYO: 7974) president Satoru Iwata pretty much put an end to these reports.

“As of now, I have nothing new to share with you in regard to the use of our IPs for any TV shows or films, but I can at least confirm that the article in question is not based on correct information,” the Japanese executive told the publication.

Ouch. Why would Nintendo be against expanding the Legend of Zelda IP into new territories? There was a brief cartoon that ran for a single season back in 1989, but since then, there has been nothing at all outside of games.

We’ll just leave this here just in case you still think the Zelda cartoon was all bad.

It looks like Nintendo wants to channel all of the Hyrulian hype into the games themselves, and not risk any sort of expansion to other mediums like film and television.

If you can only get Link’s adventures in game form, it provides a steady stream of guaranteed revenue–which is something Nintendo could use.

Plus there’s the worry of over saturating the market. Most of us wouldn’t believe it to be true, but there probably is such a thing as too much Zelda, and Nintendo knows that the franchise still burns bright even after all these years.

Although we won’t seen Link in a TV show any time soon, he’ll star in the new Zelda Wii U exclusive coming later this year.

Hopefully we’ll see Iwata and his overseas gaming giant come around, but that might not happen until Nintendo gets back on its feet. Even then it would be rare to see them break the near 20-year absence of Zelda content outside of games…but you never know.

I mean who thought we’d ever seen Nintendo embrace mobile gaming, or move outside of its own consolidated hardware? Times are a changin’, and that might mean we’ll see Link on the big screen or streamed across the net.

But Iwata affirms that won’t happen any time soon. Considering there’s a brand new Zelda Wii U game coming this year, I think that’s okay.

The post Zelda Netflix Show Not Happening, Says Nintendo appeared first on VR World.

At the inagural The Game Awards, Nintendo’s Eiji Aonuma and Shigeru Miyamoto showcased a brand new gameplay demo for the new Legend of Zelda game on Wii U.

Originally announced at E3 2013, Zelda Wii U features a dynamic open-world depiction of Hyrule, taking on a more epic grand-fantasy type of feel. Players will be able to explore the massive in-game world and interact with the environment in new ways, and experience new dynamic combat mechanics to boot.

The new gameplay demo takes place in real-time and highlights a number of pretty interesting never-before-seen features including new modes of transporation like the sailcloth.

The sailcloth is straight out of Skyward Sword and is very much akin to a hang glider, letting Link fly through the air and seamlessly travel after jumping off high precipices.

Epona makes her triumphant return as well, and serves as the primary method of travel in Hyrule. While riding Epona players won’t have to worry about running into trees or obstacles as the game automatically avoids them to give a more “natural” feel.

Link can vault off of Epona’s back and shoot arrows in slow-mo while in the air, adding a new layer of depth to combat.

The gameplay footage depicts control of Epona as easy and fluid, and at one point Aonuma remarks that players will barely have to press the Wii U gamepad to move her. This frees up your hands to do a variety of things like scouting the region by changing the view, or even plotting your course on the map via the Wii U gamepad.

Link can also engage in combat while on horseback, including swinging a sword and shooting arrows. Our stalwart elfin hero can also vault off Epona’s back in a spectacular flip and fire arrows at enemies while he’s in the air.

The game goes into slow-mo when vaulting off horseback to give you time to aim, making combat engaging and rather stylish.

Zelda Wii U uses the gamepads innovative touchscreen as a second-screen map, letting gamers plot waypoints and check their location at any time.

Using a spyscope Link can scout his surroundings and look for interesting areas. Even here Nintendo innovation shines through, as gamers can use the Wii U gamepad’s gyroscope to move the lens around.

Zelda Wii U’s map system is also incredibly dynamic.

Utilizing the Wii U gamepad’s touch interface, players can plot their own waypoints and zoom in and out of regions on a whim. Aonuma remarks that the game world is pretty massive, and that it’d take Link a long time to traverse Hyrule on foot.

There’s a number of little features that bring new depth to the in-game world as well: Miyamoto spotted some insects writhing on a rock while Link rode by on Epona, as well as some apples in the trees. Aonuma reveals that Link can “pick and eat” these apples, and we might even be able to hunt the animals as well.

Thanks to the dynamic weather and time effects, players will come across some pretty immersive vistas throughout Hyrule.

Although the gameplay trailer clocks in at a brief four minutes, it shows a wealth about Link’s new journey. The in-game world is spectacularly dynamic, filled to the brim with natural effects, flora and fauna, and region-specific environments like wooded hinterlands and sunny lakes.

And there’s breathtaking vistas that look right at home in games like Skyrim.

Zelda Wii U is currently slated for a release sometime in 2015, and Aonuma affirms that “all of the staff members are working together and doing their best”.

At the closing of the footage, Miyamoto reveals that his new Star Fox Wii U title will be released in 2015 as well–actually before the Zelda Wii U release.

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