The rumors had been swirling that the upcoming action brawler Hyrule Warriors would feature the first ever on-line multiplayer for a Zelda game. Alas, that dream has come to an end.
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The official Twitter account confirmed that the game will not feature on-line support. It will, however, have local co-op mode for 2 players. Wii U owners and one lucky friend can use the Wii U Gamepad and either the Wii U remote or a Wii U Pro controller.
The news is a bit of a letdown. On-line support for such a AAA title like this could not only help sell more units, but also increase the longevity of the game and prove to the world that Nintendo is fully embracing multiplayer. Look at literally every other game on either PlayStation or Xbox, some don't even need multiplayer, but they still feature it. I am a strong supporter of single player games, but I understand the need for a multiplayer focus. Sometimes, your friends can't get to your house and you instead play it via the network. It is a win-win.
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Much of the appeal of Mario Kart 8 is being able to take the matches online and race against strangers from around the world. Dynasty Warriors games have never been as skill based, perhaps, but teaming up with different people with different skills and styles could open up a whole new level to the game and get people playing Hyrule Warriors long after they've beaten the campaign.
Hyrule Warriors hits Japanese stores on August 14. The States get it on September 26. Be sure to tune in Monday for a new Nintendo Direct livestream which should highlight many of the new features.