Rayman Legends Release Date: Developers Protest Wii U Delay

Life is not easy for Nintendo these days. The Big N's new console, the Wii U, has not sold as well as its predecessor and the launch day was plagued by complaints over a lengthy update. Now the company and its console have faced more problems when Ubisoft announced that the coveted "Rayman Legends" would no longer be a Wii U exclusive. However, the whiplash from that news has only exacerbated by protests from fans and the developers in France.

The title is now slated for a September release so that it can coincide with the launch of the title on the Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360,  a decision that has made a great deal of fans and developers angry. According to MTV News, one former Ubisoft staff member took to a Spanish video game site to express his rage over the delay. The user, under the alias Zeta69, claimed that the Wii U version of "Rayman Legends" is completely finished and ready for release. "We had a first delay because it was obvious we couldn't finish on time, but we gave it all to be there on February," Zeta69 wrote. "What face do you think we had when, the week we had to close the game, we're being told it's not going to be released? I couldn't believe it."

He added, "This is not a decision taken by the development team. This comes from really, really high up, so please don't pick on the game. If you're pissed, imagine how we feel."

According to MTV, the user left the company in January when the development of "Rayman" was coming to a close.  

According to Forbes, series overseer Michel Ancel has also done his part to protest the delay. Ancel created a poster that says "Release Our Rayman, Support Ubisoft Montpelier" and posted a picture with it on Facebook. VentureBeat even reported that a group of fans had posed in the street alongside Ancel in the street to as a sign of their disapproval.   

According to Gaming Illustrated, the title was considered a major title for Nintendo's Wii U and one that could potentially help improve system sales. It was originally slated for a February 26 launch and a demo has been available since December. However, the launch of the title in September on other consoles will not only hurt Nintendo's sales but could cripple Ubisoft. September also features the release of the high profile Grand Theft Auto.