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‘Yooka-Laylee’ Game Release Date: Toybox Pre-Order, Wii U Version Cancelled And Switch Version In Development

By Josh Moorcroft
Published on: 22:32 PST, Dec 12, 2016

Sellout Kickstarter success story Yooka-Laylee will release on PC, PS4 and Xbox One on April 11 next year. The spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie from British studio Playtonic Games was overwhelmingly funded on Kickstarter last year, with the developers originally planning to release the game in late 2016. That release date was recently pushed into early 2017, with Playtonic now confirming the game will release worldwide in April. However, that’s not the only new information they revealed about the upcoming 3D platformer.

When Yooka-Laylee was first announced in early 2015, it was originally planned to release simultaneously across all platforms. However, according to Eurogamer, the 3D platformer will now only be released on Sony’s PlayStation 4, Microsoft’s Xbox One and PC via Steam on April 11. With that in mind, there’s bad news for Nintendo fans, with Playtonic Games confirming that the Wii U version of their game has been cancelled because of technical issues, the studio confirmed the news, saying it has “explored every possible avenue” in attempting to fix that version.

For Wii U owners who backed the game’s Kickstarter campaign last year, they’ll be able to move their pledge to another platform or request a complete refund early next year. However, Playtonic Games have hinted that they’re planning on also bringing Yooka-Laylee to the Wii U’s successor, the Nintendo Switch. Further details around that version of the game and how Wii U backers can switch their pledge will be announced early next year.

In other news, Playtonic Games has finally revealed how non-Kickstarter-backers will be able to get their hands on the game when it releases in April next year. According to VG247, the game is now available to pre-order on PC, PS4 and Xbox One for $39.99/€39.99/£34.99 – which is slightly more expensive than Kickstarter backers paid last year, meaning early adopters will have saved money on the final price of the game. What’s more, those who pre-order Yooka-Laylee on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 before release will be able to access the Toybox demo, which was previously only available to certain Kickstarter backers.

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As previously announced by Playtonic, the game will be available as a physical boxed variant on PS4 and Xbox One when it releases next April. However, that doesn’t mean Kickstarter backers will have to miss out. In early 2017, Playtonic will also announce plans to allow Kickstarter backers to upgrade their pledge. Whether that will also allow Kickstarter backers to access the Toybox demo on console remains to be seen.

Finally, as always, Playtonic have released another trailer for Yooka-Laylee to sit alongside the latest batch of announcements. This particular trailer shows off Capital Cashino; a level that will appear later in the game.

Approximately 73,206 backers pledged an incredible total of £2,090,104 through Yooka-Laylee’s Kickstarter campaign last year. As such, it quickly became one of the most successful campaigns on the crowdfunding platform. That’s not all that much of a surprise, however, considering Playtonic Games is a team comprised of a number of Rare employees who once worked on the game’s spiritual predecessor, Banjo-Kazooie. That being said, the studio’s decision to cancel the version of their game on Nintendo’s platform is sure to disappoint some of those original backers.

Yooka-Laylee is set to be released on April 11 next year and is available to pre-order now for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Details around the Nintendo Switch version of the game are expected to be revealed in early 2017.

[Featured Image by Playtonic Games]

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