Yooka-Laylee Switch version out ‘as soon as possible’

With the launch of the highly anticipated Yooka-Laylee around the corner, set to hit Xbox One and PS4 on April 11, fans are clamouring for information regarding the game’s release on Nintendo platforms.

It was initially planned for a Wii U release, but the announcement of Switch by Nintendo prompted developer Playtonic to cancel that version and move it over to Nintendo’s new console.

Unfortunately, the Switch version of Yooka-Laylee is yet to get a solid release date, but the studio insists it’s hard at work on bringing the game to the platform.

“It’s a bit too early to go into specifics with this version, but rest assured we’re working directly with Nintendo to get it out as soon as possible for our many fans and Kickstarter backers on that platform,” said Playtonic’s Andy Robinson in an interview with Game Reactor. “We’re big Nintendo fans here, so it’s very exciting to be working on Nintendo Switch.”

Yooka-Laylee stands as a bridge between the modern platformer and a forgotten era.

The spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie and others like it has been high on gamer wishlists since its crownfunding campaign kicked off on May 2015.

Banjo-Kazooie designers Chris Sutherland, Steve Mayles, Steven Hurst, and Grant Kirkhope, among others, are reprising their roles on a team made up of game designing superstars. Yooka-Laylee has been set up to succeed, and it simply can’t fail. It can’t.

It promised as part of the game’s Kickstarter campaign that it would be coming to Wii U, but that plan has been scrapped, with it now set to come to Nintendo Switch.

Anyone that has donated to the game’s Wii U development can choose another version.

“We’re sad to announce that despite our best efforts and exploring every possible avenue, we have encountered unforeseen technical issues that unfortunately mean it will be impossible for us to release Yooka-Laylee on Wii U as initially planned.” Gavin Price, Studio Director, Playtonic Games said.

Developed by Playtonic and published by Team17, Yooka-Laylee stars the charismatic new buddy duo Yooka and Laylee, who use an arsenal of special moves to explore – and expand – 3D worlds filled with collectibles to discover, secrets to unlock and a cast of quirky characters to meet (or defeat).