How to Survive dev explains why Wii U version lacks online multiplayer

A couple of months ago, 505 Games provided us with confirmation that How to Survive is heading to Wii U. The revelation was accompanied by a bit of disappointing news, however. Unlike other multiplatform versions of How to Survive, the Wii U version won’t include online play.

We recently spoke with developer Eko Software about the upcoming title and director Jules Benjamin provided us with an explanation as to why this is so.

Benjamin noted that the team decided to focus on improving How to Survive’s story mode – described as “the biggest part of the game” while also creating “specific features for the Wii U instead of doing a straight port and not taking care of the second screen.”

Benjamin said:

“Thanks a lot for this question, we were waiting the chance to explain. The Wii U has a lot of unique features and we needed to make the right choices. We preferred to improve the biggest part of the game – the story mode – and develop specific features for the Wii U instead of doing a straight port and not taking care of the second screen.”

Benjamin later added that the UI “has been fully re-designed for the Wii U and is fully tactile.” This “allows actions that are not possible on other platforms.”

We’ll have our full How to Survive interview up later this weekend.