Nintendo Direct Highlights Strong Holiday and Early 2016 for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
Cloud from FINAL FANTASY VII Headed to Super
Smash Bros.; The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
Revealed; Original Pokémon Games Return
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nintendo debuted a new Nintendo Direct presentation today, revealing
details about several new and upcoming Wii
U and Nintendo
3DS games. Some of the exciting news included the reveal that iconic
video game character Cloud from FINAL FANTASY VII will be added
as a playable DLC fighter in Super
Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super
Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. Other notable announcements
included the reveal of an HD remake of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight
Princess for the Wii U console, a new Wii U bundle featuring Splatoon
and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and news that the Pokémon games
that started it all – Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version
and Pokémon Yellow Version – will launch with new wireless
communication functionality in the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo 3DS
system on Feb. 27. To view the Nintendo Direct video in its entirety,
visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct.
“There’s never been a better time to join in on the fun with Nintendo,”
said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of
Sales & Marketing. “From new experiences like Xenoblade
Chronicles X that you can enjoy this year to re-imagined favorites
like The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon coming in 2016, we
have you covered with games you’re sure to love.”
Some of the highlights revealed in the video include:
Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
-
A New Challenger Approaches!: Cloud Strife, the legendary
protagonist from the classic RPG game FINAL FANTASY VII, will
enter the battlefield as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros.
for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS in the
future. A special video presentation will be released in December,
which will share more updates about the hit fighting games. More
information is available at http://www.smashbros.com/us/dlc/.
Wii U
-
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD: Originally
released for Wii and Nintendo GameCube systems in 2006, The Legend
of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a visually remastered remake of
one of the most critically acclaimed games in The Legend of Zelda
series. The new game launches on March 4 in a bundle with a detailed
new amiibo
figure modeled after the Wolf Link and Midna characters in the game.
The game will also be compatible with five other The Legend of Zelda
amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. series. The game’s iconic
soundtrack will be offered as a bonus for fans who pre-order the game
from select retailers. -
The Legend of Zelda for Wii U (name not final):
Next year marks the 30th anniversary of The Legend of
Zelda series. And with that comes The Legend of Zelda for
Wii U, the next entry in the storied franchise. During the Nintendo
Direct presentation, it was revealed that certain saved data from The
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD on the Wolf Link amiibo can
be carried over to this new game. -
New Wii U Bundle: A new Wii U Deluxe Set that includes the Wii
U console and pre-installed versions of hit games Splatoon
and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U launches this holiday season. -
Pokkén Tournament: A collaboration between The Pokémon
Company and BANDAI Namco Entertainment Inc., Pokkén Tournament
is a new fighting game for Wii U that lets players use their favorite
Pokémon characters to battle it out in fighting arenas. Fans who
purchase a first-run version of the game at retail stores will receive
a limited-edition Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card that immediately unlocks
the character in the game after tapping it to the GamePad. Pokkén
Tournament launches exclusively for Wii U in spring 2016 at a
suggested retail price of $59.99. -
Star
Fox Zero: Star Fox Zero delivers a new beginning
for the classic shooter series. With a unique control scheme that uses
both the TV screen and the screen on the GamePad, players pilot
multiple vehicles through intergalactic levels with Fox and his
classic crew. The game launches exclusively for Wii U on April 22. -
An Ink-redible Splatoon Update: Today at 5 p.m. PT, a
free new update for Splatoon adds more than 40 pieces of new
gear, including more winter items and some slick bandanas. And on Nov.
13 at 6 p.m. PT, another free new update adds a new stage
called Museum d’Alfonsino. Further stages and features will be added
in future updates through January. A Nintendo Treehouse Splatoon
Tournament will happen in December, featuring competitive game play as
well as tips for players about setting up their own tournaments. The
tournament will be live streamed at http://www.youtube.com/nintendo,
http://www.twitch.tv/nintendo
and http://live.nintendo.com. -
Super
Mario Maker Powers Up Once Again: In December, a
new Web portal will offer a more robust search function to find and
filter levels in Super Mario Maker across a variety of
Web-enabled devices! -
Animal
Crossing: amiibo Festival: By tapping any of the Animal
Crossing amiibo figures, players can play as that character in the
game’s main mode, a dynamic board game. Players can also tap in their Animal
Crossing amiibo cards to play other modes like an Animal
Crossing quiz. The Wii U game that includes the Isabelle and Digby
amiibo figures and three amiibo cards launches on Nov. 13 at a
suggested retail price of $59.99, the same day as the standalone Animal
Crossing amiibo figures. -
Mario
Tennis: Ultra Smash: On Nov. 20, Mario Tennis: Ultra
Smash launches exclusively for Wii U at a suggested price of
$49.99. The game includes a fun New Super Mario Bros. power-up,
the Mega Mushroom, which is featured in the over-the-top “Mega Battle
Mode.” Players can also select “Classic Mode” to enjoy a more
traditional game of tennis. Players can compete online or together via
local play, and the game is compatible with amiibo in select modes,
including online matches. -
Xenoblade
Chronicles X: Massive RPG Xenoblade Chronicles X
launches exclusively for Wii U on Dec. 4 at a suggested retail price
of $59.99. For people who purchase the physical version of the game,
four free high-speed data loading packs are available to download from
the Nintendo eShop starting today. The data packs greatly increase the
speed of loading times in the game, but are not required to play.
Nintendo 3DS
-
Where it all Began: The original Pokémon games – Pokémon Red
Version, Pokémon Blue Version and Pokémon Yellow Version
– are coming to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 27, the
same day that the original games first released in Japan in 1996. And
there’s no need to pull out those old Game Boy Game Link cables while
playing. Using the wireless communication on Nintendo 3DS, players can
trade Pokémon with other players. -
Hyrule
Warriors: Legends: Take the epic Hyrule
Warriors experience on the go! Hyrule Warriors: Legends
offers players the entire Hyrule Warriors game on Nintendo 3DS
… but with even more content! This time, Tetra, Toon Link and the King
of Hyrule from The
Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker join the Skull Kid from The
Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask on the battlefield. In
addition, new character Linkle, a girl who lives in a small village
filled with Cuccos and wields two crossbows, joins the large cast of
playable characters. Players will be able to command multiple
characters, taking direct control of them at any time, leading to new
strategic options on the battlefield. Hyrule Warriors: Legends
launches for Nintendo 3DS on March 25 at a suggested retail price of
$39.99. -
Mario
& Luigi: Paper Jam: The hilarious Mario & Luigi
series meets the charming Paper Mario series in the Mario &
Luigi: Paper Jam game, launching exclusively for Nintendo 3DS on
Jan. 22 at a suggested retail price of $39.99. Using compatible
amiibo, players can create a corresponding character card in the game,
which has powerful effects during battle. -
Fire
Emblem Fates: There are multiple adventures waiting to be
experienced in Fire Emblem Fates for Nintendo 3DS. By
purchasing one of the two main games at a suggested retail price of
$39.99 – Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright or Fire Emblem Fates:
Conquest – either at retail locations or in the Nintendo eShop
starting Feb. 19, players choose to embark on a unique quest with a
different story and different experiences. The decision that the
player makes early in the game will dictate the game’s story and
difficulty. After purchasing one game, the downloadable version of the
other is only $19.99 via an in-game purchase. There will even be a
third downloadable version in the near future, Fire Emblem Fates:
Revelation, for players who own either Fire Emblem Fates:
Birthright or Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest and want to take
on a new challenge and experience an alternative version of the game.
For fans of the series, a special edition will be available that
includes all three games, an artbook and a Nintendo 3DS XL pouch at a
suggested retail price of $79.99. -
The
Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes DLC: New free DLC
is coming on Dec. 2, adding Linebeck’s Uniform and Fierce Deity Armor
outfits, each with unique powers, as well as the new Den of Trials
with more than 30 stages to conquer. The upcoming software update also
makes it more convenient to get Friendly Tokens by purchasing them
from the Street Merchant once the princess’ curse has been lifted.
Additionally, two adjustments will ensure a more comfortable online
experience: By answering a question before matchmaking, you will be
matched with other players who gave similar answers, plus players who
leave a game in progress through the Pause menu can be added to the
blacklist. -
Pokémon
Super Mystery Dungeon: Players can become one of 20
Pokémon in Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, launching for
Nintendo 3DS on Nov. 20 at a suggested retail price of $39.99. With
turn-based battles and ever-changing dungeons, players can encounter
every single known Pokémon in the game – all 720 of them! -
Nintendo
Badge Arcade: Now available in the Nintendo eShop on
Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Badge Arcade is a free-to-start game
that lets players control a classic arcade-style crane machine to earn
badges from popular titles to customize their Nintendo 3DS HOME menus.
The game is constantly being updated with new badges, so it’s always
great to keep checking back! -
Two DRAGON QUEST Games are Better Than One: The lineup
of RPGs on Nintendo 3DS continues to grow with classic games DRAGON
QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past and DRAGON QUEST
VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, both remastered for Nintendo 3DS
and coming in 2016. -
Pokémon Picross: The popular Picross series meets
the lovable world of Pokémon when free-to-start game Pokémon Picross
launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS in early
December.
amiibo
-
Jan. 22 sees the release of Lucas in the Super Smash Bros.
series, amiibo figures for Resetti, Blathers, Celeste and Kicks in the Animal
Crossing series, and Series 2 of the Animal Crossing amiibo
cards.
Third-Party
-
FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS from Square Enix, Inc.
(Nintendo 3DS): In the first FINAL FANTASY action-RPG on
Nintendo 3DS, players journey to an island filled with mystical
crystals protected by powerful eidolons. More than 20 jobs can be
learned, each with its own set of special skills. When FINAL
FANTASY EXPLORERS launches exclusively for Nintendo 3DS on Jan.
26, it will include all the DLC that was previously released in Japan.
Multiplayer functionality for up to four players is enabled through
Nintendo 3DS local wireless communication. -
Mega Man Legacy Collection from Capcom (Nintendo 3DS):
Capcom’s iconic Blue Bomber has been a classic part of Nintendo
history since the NES days. Mega Man Legacy Collection launches
for Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 23 and features faithful reproductions of the
first six NES Mega Man games (Mega Man 1–6), plus
new ways to experience these classics with Challenge Mode’s remix
stages and Museum Mode’s repository of original production art. In
addition, the game comes with exclusive new challenges that can be
unlocked using the Mega Man amiibo. But that’s not the only amiibo
that can unlock these bonus challenges! A new gold-colored Mega Man
amiibo figure also launches as part of the Mega Man Legacy
Collection Collector’s Edition. -
Hive
Jump from Graphite Lab (Wii U):
Players shoot their way through dangerous alien infestations in Hive
Jump, a frenetic run ’n’ gun platformer for one to four players. Hive
Jump launches in the Nintendo eShop with exclusive Wii U features
in early 2016. -
Kerbal
Space Program from Squad (Wii U): By using the Wii
U GamePad, players can take part in the complete space agency
experience, from building a spaceship part by part, to mission control
by flying their creation and conquering the planets and moons of the
solar system. Kerbal Space Program launches in Nintendo eShop
for Wii U in early 2016. -
SteamWorld
Heist from Image & Form (Nintendo 3DS): For a
limited time, players who purchase side-scrolling, turn-based strategy
shooter SteamWorld Heist in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
when it launches this holiday season will receive an exclusive
Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu theme. -
FAST
Racing Neo from Shin’en (Wii U): It’s almost here! FAST
Racing Neo, the high-octane racing game with up to eight-player
online multiplayer, launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii
U in early December. -
Typoman
from Headup Games and Brainseed Factory (Wii U): Typoman
is a puzzling platformer that tells a dark tale of heroes and
monsters, where words can either be a blessing … or a curse! Using
the GamePad in a unique way, players set out on an adventure to
explore the incredible power of words and how they can be used to
survive the environmental hazards and overcome vicious enemies. The
game launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U on Nov. 19. -
Mighty No. 9 from Deep Silver (Wii U / Nintendo 3DS):
From Keiji Inafune, the creator of the Mega Man series, comes Mighty
No. 9. This action side-scroller can be played solo or with two
players in online co-op and competitive modes. The Wii U version of
the game launches on Feb. 9, with a Nintendo 3DS version following
shortly thereafter. -
LEGO Marvel’s Avengers from Warner Bros. Interactive
Entertainment (Wii U / Nintendo 3DS): With an extensive roster of
new characters to play, LEGO Marvel’s Avengers features
storylines and locations from six different films in the Marvel
Cinematic Universe, as well as classic Avengers content seen in Marvel
Comics, all retold with a unique splash of LEGO humor. The game
launches for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS on Jan. 26. -
Project X Zone 2 from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
America, Inc. (Nintendo 3DS): Everyone’s favorite Capcom,
SEGA and BANDAI NAMCO characters are crossing over once again in Project
X Zone 2. But this time Nintendo is also joining the fun by adding
Chrom and Lucina from Fire Emblem Awakening and Fiora from Xenoblade
Chronicles to the game. Project X Zone 2 launches
exclusively for Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 16. -
Terraria from 505 Games (Wii U / Nintendo 3DS):
In Terraria, players explore vast fantasy worlds and wage war
on hundreds of enemies and giant bosses using weapons and armor they
craft themselves. They can even use the touch-screen interface on the
Nintendo 3DS system or the Wii U GamePad to reach directly into the
world of Terraria, fashioning elaborate and amazing structures with
their fingertips. It’s also possible to share the adventure with
friends, with online and split-screen multiplayer for Wii U and local
play for Nintendo 3DS. Hundreds of hours of entertainment await in Terraria,
launching in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS in early
2016.
For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com/.
Remember that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let
adults manage the content their children can access. For more
information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu
or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of
interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan,
manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™
and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and
Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when
it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has
sold more than 4.3 billion video games and more than 686 million
hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U,
Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™,
Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi
XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo
GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons
that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™,
Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and
Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America
Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s
operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about
Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.
Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at http://press.nintendo.com,
a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the
site.
Contacts
GOLIN
Rich George, 415-318-4342
rgeorge@golin.com
or
Eddie
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egarcia@golin.com
