'Yooka-Laylee' announced for April 2017, Wii U version cancelled due to 'technical issues'

"Yooka-Laylee," described as the spiritual successor to games such as "Banjo-Kazooie," will officially launch in April 2017. The game will be available for the Xbox One, Playstation 4 and Windows PC but it has now been confirmed that the Wii U version has been cancelled.

Developer Playtonic explains that the Wii U version has been halted due to "unforeseen technical issues," Eurogamer reported. Because of this, the developers are now looking forward to move the development and make a version for the Nintendo Switch instead.

The key developers of the game were the same people who worked for Rare back when it developed platformer titles on the N64, such as the aforementioned "Banjo-Kazooie." It is stated that the cancellation of the Wii U version will come as a big disappointment for fans looking forward to seeing a successor release on a new Nintendo console.

Fans who have pledged for the Wii U version on Kickstarter are given two options. Backers will be given the freedom to move their pledge to a different console or to the PC version or wait until the developers release more information regarding the Switch version of the game.

Backers will also be given the option to demand a refund. An email address has been issued and those who have backed the Wii U version can ask Playtonic to return the amount they had donated given that the Wii U version has been halted.

"The Playtonic team wanted to explore every possible avenue before making the very difficult decision to transfer development from the Wii U," the developers stated in the official site. "Our developers worked tirelessly over many months in attempt to solve our technical issues, but unfortunately it's not been possible to bring 'Yooka-Laylee' to Wii U as originally planned."

Preorder incentives have also been announced for the PS4, Xbox One and Windows PC versions. This will be the "Yooka-Laylee Toybox," which is a prepackaged open sandbox that will allow gamers to try out the mechanics and physics of the upcoming full version.

"Yooka-Laylee" will release on April 11, 2017.