Yooka-Laylee goes gold, Playtonic hires another former Rare staffer
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 31 Comments
Update: Playtonic now has a post up on Kickstarter about how console backers will soon be able to prepare their final platform choices. We’ve included all of the relevant information after the break.
Original: Yooka-Laylee has gone gold, Playtonic announced today. Work on the game is now finished 21 months after the game’s Kickstarter campaign ended.
Playtonic wrote in a website post:
“We couldn’t have reached this moment without the incredible support of our backers, fans, family and friends across the games industry. Thanks again for your unwavering enthusiasm for our studio. We hope you enjoy Yooka-Laylee when it releases on April 11!”
Playtonic will ship the PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions on April 11. However, the Switch release will likely take a bit of extra time.
In other news, former Rare staffer Gary Richards has joined the team. Richards previously was the lead designer on Viva Pinata. He also worked in testing on games including Perfect Dark, Banjo-Tooie and Conker’s Bad Fur Day.
More: Playtonic, Team17, Yooka-Laylee
Playtonic will have news on letting Yooka-Laylee backers move from Wii U to Switch by month’s end
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 6 Comments
Playtonic announced last month that the Wii U version of Yooka-Laylee is cancelled. In its place, the team is doing everything it can to make a Switch version possible.
Those who are looking to change their backer copy from Wii U to Switch won’t have to wait much longer. On Twitter, Playtonic said that this should be possible by the end of the month. There may potentially be news about a physical version for Switch as well.
Thanks to Jake for the tip.
More: interview, Playtonic, Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee also has a co-op feature
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 11 Comments
A new Yooka-Laylee trailer came out this week. In it, Playtonic gave fans a look at various mini-games included in its 3D platformer. There is one extra multiplayer element not touched upon in the video though.
Yooka-Laylee actually has a co-op feature. A second player can take control of the Bee Team, and is able to grab quills, collect and store butterflies, stop traps, and more.
More: Playtonic, Team17, Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee – multiplayer reveal trailer
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch eShop, Videos | 7 Comments
Playtonic issued a new Yooka-Laylee trailer showing off eight multiplayer games included in the game. We’ve posted the video below.
More: Playtonic, Team17, top, Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee video shows how Tribalstack Tropics has improved
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos | 6 Comments
Playtonic shared a new Yooka-Laylee video this week that gives fans a taste of what Tribalstack Tropics will be like in the final game as a fully fleshed out world. We’ve posted it below.
More: Playtonic, Team17, Yooka-Laylee
Playtonic on why it took so long to make the decision of cancelling Yooka-Laylee for Wii U
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 63 Comments
Playtonic delivered the unfortunate news this week that Yooka-Laylee will no longer be coming to Wii U. Instead, the team is looking to bring the 3D platformer to Switch. Technical issues became too much of a barrier to overcome.
In an official FAQ on its website, Playtonic explains why it waited as long as it did to share the news about pulling the plug on Yooka-Laylee’s Wii U version. The studio wrote:
“The Playtonic team wanted to explore every possible avenue before making the very difficult decision to transfer development from the Wii U. 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.”
Thanks to Jake for the tip.
More: Playtonic, top, Yooka-Laylee
Playtonic comments further on Yooka-Laylee’s move from Wii U to Switch, all down to tech issues
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 112 Comments
Playtonic delivered the surprising news today that Yooka-Laylee’s Wii U version has been scrapped. In its place though, the team appears to be refocusing its Nintendo efforts entirely on Switch.
GamesIndustry spoke with Playtonic studio head Gavin Price to inquire further about the delay. He was asked if the recent news about Wii U production affected the decision, to which he denied.
Price explained:
More: Gavin Price, Playtonic, top, Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee’s Wii U version cancelled; likely coming to Nintendo Switch instead
Posted on 8 years ago by Matt(@OnePunchMaz) in News, Switch, Wii U | 106 Comments
Playtonic announced today that Yooka-Laylee will be released on April 11th, 2017 on all previously announced platforms..except Wii U. According to Playtonic, due to “unforeseen technical issues”, a release of the Wii U version was made impossible. However, to make up for that, Playtonic are “working very closely with Nintendo” to bring the game to the Nintendo Switch instead. Further details will be shared “early next year”.
Kickstarter backers who opted to get the Wii U version can instead get the game for any of the other platforms for which the game launches on April 11th, or to the Switch version once further details are announced next year. The wording seems to imply that the Switch version will not launch on April 11th alongside the other versions. Those who backed the Wii U version and want a refund instead of switching to another version are urged by Playtonic to contact them via the Backer messaging system on Kickstarter.
Finally, here’s a new trailer for the game; hopefully we will be able to play this on the Switch soon:
More: Playtonic, Team17, top, Yooka-Laylee
Evidence pointing to April launch for Yooka-Laylee
Posted on 8 years ago by Zack in Rumors, Wii U | 15 Comments
If the Xbox store webpage is anything to go by, it seems that Yooka-Laylee will be released in April.
The page has Yooka-Laylee listed for release on April 11. A Brazilian retailer also posted its own release date of April 7 for physical versions. While this is by no means an official confirmation, one could assume that we’re likely close to an actual official announcement from Playtonic in the near future.
The only slightly concerning thing here is that a physical version of Yooka-Laylee is nowhere to be seen. Missing out on a retail release wouldn’t be entirely surprising given the state of the console, but we’ll have to see what Playtonic and Team17 are planning.
More: Playtonic, Team17, Yooka-Laylee
More off-screen Yooka-Laylee footage
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U | 0 comments
GameXplain has posted a few more minutes of off-screen footage from Yooka-Laylee. Watch the latest gameplay below.