Following a recent confirmation of Pikmin 3’s remastered port to the Switch with Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Nintendo has taken a step to remove the original title from the eShop, forever sealing its fate away from potential latecomers to the Wii U.
Effective as of writing, Pikmin 3 is no longer found in the eShop, whether by browsing or by direct searching, suggesting that the game has indeed been deleted from Wii U’s index of eShop titles.
More Exploration
Looking into Nintendo’s official website, however, Wii U’s Pikmin 3 description remains. However, it comes at a caveat that the page itself does not provide an option for consumers to buy digitally.
While the specific page suggests that the game is “available now,” the best it can offer is a demo of the game. Oddly enough, despite still offering Shigeru Miyamoto’s Pikmin Short Movies, clicking the link leads to a WIP page for Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
But not all hope is lost for those aspiring to play the game on the Wii U. There are still physical copies of the game in the market, but maybe limited from certain eShop-exclusive contents.
In hindsight, this is not the first time that Nintendo is resorting to the same maneuver. Similar to Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze’s release on the Switch, the title also sees itself removed from the eShop.
Moving Forward
Fans of the franchise will be ecstatic as Pikmin 3 Deluxe nears its release on October 30, 2020. More than just being able to play a beloved title on a modern console, it also comes with improvements from the original. These enhancements mostly come from additional content and new gameplay elements.
Features of which Nintendo claims adds engagement while also making the game enticing to newcomers. Highlighting on the co-op aspect that lets audiences play as a group throughout the campaign in the game.
Alternatively, casual players who prefer a more chill experience can now configure the game’s difficulty accordingly. This comes from the understanding that some gamers are merely into the game for amusement and not the adrenaline-pumping challenge.
For shutterbugs who have a thing for taking fancy images, Pikmin 3’s beautifully rendered visuals make for a perfect specimen for taking pictures. This is thanks to the game’s returning feature involving the use of a camera to take snapshots while in the game.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe will come at a retail price of $59.99.
Image used courtesy of IGN/YouTube Screenshot