Rayman Legends Challenge Mode Coming Exclusively To Wii U This April

So they're giving us part of the game early to give even less incentive to buy the game? Fine by me.

Is this online challenge mode going to be on the disc when it comes out in September anyway?

Its something, as far as I'm concerned the fact that they've actually listened and responded in a positive manner is great IMO. And it also sounds fairly substantial so it should keep us entertained for a while, and best of all... ITS FREE!

This just in! They're delaying the challenge mode demo in order to port it to other consoles.

As one of the "I brought my WiiU for Rayman" people, I'm still pissed off. You flowered up ubisoft, and nobody will forget that. The game you produce better be perfect since you've delayed it over a year! (August > November > February > September!)

Not sure what to think...

From a side I'm very glad to ear that finally the unfairness to WiiU players will be quite fixed. An online mode all for them to enjoy soon and the promess the waiting will add new level and bosses to the final game ^O^

On the other side however... Damn ubisoft... You needed your developpers covering your poor publisher's choices!!! That's sounds too wrong >_>;

"It definitely hurt us to see you guys so upset by the delay."

Then hurt more and give us our game, jerk.

@Derpsandwich

Don't be a fool. That's Michel Ancel, the Lead dev on the game, he didn't make the decision and you're just being horrible to the wrong person.

@Placlu

Did you seriously just accuse them of delaying the game... from 3~4 months before the wii u launched, to launch?

If they are going to use this time to add some more stuff to the wii u version of the game, I guess I'm placated. I can accept that, while they could have released the Wii u game now (and I would have preferred it!) that they can make the game better by september.

@DerpSandwich Woah Woah.. Ancel and the development team actually demonstrated against the delay, it's not his fault, that's why I don't feel like boycotting the game either, the people that actually worked very hard on it aren't to blame for this stupid decision.

hmmm im still going to get the game, after all its going to be unreal. and if this online challenge mode is truely wii u exclusive ( i kinda doubt it will be ). i reckon it will be worth the wait again, i was truely pissed about the delay but whatever im over it now, just looking forward to the new rayman

wow that's so cool

y'know I'm not even a rayman fan(although I did enjoy the demo), but when this comes out I'm gonna buy it just to give the dev and wii u some support

I heavily respect Ubisoft for doing that for us. can't wait!

Looking forward to it

Really nice, but as some have said,this might have a heavy negative impact on sales later.

here's your difference between those who create games and those who sell them.

I love the effort Mr. Ancel and co have put into these new rayman games. I can see the loving craftwork and creativity they got in this at every turn. I've said it before, this download's for you Michel Ancel & Co!

Hmm... if it's truly exclusive that might not be so bad... but are you going to delay your other projects so you can port them to Wii U? Didn't think so.

I wonder who's porting the game, it's obviously not Montpellier.

What's free can't hurt, I guess XD

@Waveboy Is that sarcasm? By the time Pikmin comes out, it will be a lot more than 7 months late since it was meant to be out at launch.

@WaveBoy did you even play origins. IMO it even blows mario out the water in some places the tricky treasure levels and land of the livid dead was platforming perfection!!

If they are going to utilise the delay to add even more to the game then I can now say I'm happy with that. It hurt to think Ubisoft were holding back a finished game but if they are going to add even more to make it an even better game it'll make the wait that much easier to handle.

The online mode looks like fun too, it's free & it's not a demo. Thanks heaps Ubisoft Montpellier, you've recovered Ubisoft's huge mistake to the best of your ability.

As long as they don't pull a Megaman Legends 3 on us, i'm fine with this.

@Peach64 Launch window.

Well, it's free, and from the devs. An opportunity to have the game without buying it, and to hopefully chat a little with the devs on Miiverse.
As for putting my money on Rayman this September, HELL NO.

That looks good! I'm sure it will keep me busy until the full game is released

They can shove it where the sun don't shine.

@drunkenmaster76 Why you puffed up ignorant... this is from the dev team, which pretty much hates the decision of delaying the game as much as you or anyone else does.

Not bad, after all it is free.
The full game will remain on Gamestop's shelf (and any other retailers' of course) instead.

@drunkenmaster76
You took the words right out of my mouth.

This news gets a pathetic! MEH! from me, no more than an advanced demo, boring!!!!

I 100% will not be buying this game on the Wii U anymore, and have now cancelled my pre-order.

Lego City: Undercover, here I come....

you know, this makes up for the mistake, so we can actually play this game for free. till it comes out, no hard feelings, and to really make it up, bring all the other ubisoft game also on the wiiU.

Well this might convince me to get the game.. Lets see how this free sample turns out .)

This is a very nice gesture from the creators of the game, hopefully it appeases some of the apparent internet rage Ubi's decision has caused :/

I don't have a WiiU, but for everyone who does have one I'm actually a little envious. Download, and enjoy everyone!

...Well, that was unexpected. Good attempt at a save, Ubisoft. This also seems like a good way to gauge an install base and/or increase it.

I hope this works to fix the relationship between Ubi and Wii U owners. I'd hate to see this game flop due to a few stupid decisions by "men in ties."

Hey, that sounds good! Erm, this thing is, in fact, coming out on time, right?

I think this is a nice gesture.

This is nice, but the final game is just going to be a mess by the team it releases, giving us a demo and a challenge, then the final game... I feel so frigging bad for the devs...

The delay did not only hurt the fans but also the developers so it would make sense to NOT boycott the game... The developers worked really hard!

It's so so lame and truly disheartening to see how spoiled and ungrateful the lot of you are. They don't have to release this, they have NO obligation to do anything for us. They owe us nothing. It's a /video game!/ Jeeze, support the devs who actually MADE the game. It's not their fault. Buncha whiners.

That's actually a pretty good save effort. I had expected another few levels, but a full game mode - with online no less - appears to be quite a goodwill gesture. It's enough to get me to drop my boycott stance, so whether I buy the game at launch is now down to what's competing with it.

@bahooney Wrong. This is like a sports team. The devs and game companies owe us everything. They don't put a good product out, we don't play it. Look at hockey, they went on strike, so they delayed the season. Pissed off their fans, now they are doing terribly. You have to take care of your customer. Ubicrap is doing a terrible job of this. Giving us free stuff is the least of what they do.

I'll try out this challenge mode, but the chances of me buying Legends didn't change due to this. The only way they are truly apologizing and is releasing Legends on Wii U before the other systems. Period.

Frankly I'm bored with the whole Rayman debacle now. Why watch the DVD extras before the Film? They're extras for a reason. Works the same with Games. Although they don't 'owe us anything', they are competing in a market against other games, and I intend to spend my money elsewhere for a game for my nephew to play.

Lego City here we come!

Exclusivity MY ASS. Watch this proof!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39EJFiN6gFw

Damage is already done. Who cares what they give us at this point.

Sounds like we get a more complete game eventually, good. I'm buying, game delays and business practices don't scare me

no thanks! we want the full game now!

This is truly a great gift to make up to the Wii U fanbase, it's essentially a nice chunk of the game for free, and I'm quite disappointed with how ungrateful and immature some people are being over this, I had high hopes when Ubisoft announced this yesterday. It's too late for them to release the game itself now, bringing it to Microsoft requires a simultaneous release because of Microsoft's fanbase and canceling it from the 360 now would piss off even more people. This is probably not only the best option, it is incredibly generous. It's FREE, and it's not just a demo, it's a slice of the game.

Seems like the right thing to do. I'm sure the delay was a corporate decision, rather than the development team's. This explains why they feel sorry.

@ShadJV Totally agree. Take it people and run. This is way better then another demo.

Don't punish the devs for the company's decision. If you like and want the game then get it! If not then move on and continue to protest all ubi games!!

That's pretty cool.
And even though I'm still pissed about the delay, I find it much better that they are adding more content to the game so that we actually have a reason for the delay. Ubisoft isn't being such a d!*& any more, but they're still huge @$$es.(Note, not the dev team, the publisher)

The guys seem pretty sincere, espec since suits made the decision. I'll still be checking the game out because my wife n son are mental for Rayman.

I'm sorry, but they screwed Wii U owners so I'm not giving then my money.

I'll take it! You don't know what it's like to work that kind of business guys. Be careful before throwing judgements.
I think it's saying something good when they give something like this free to Wii U owners

This actually looks very cool! Thank you Mr. Ancel for being compassionate about the Wii U Gamers rather than the Ubisoft business department.

the people saying "I hate u ubisoft" and "I'm not buying this" are kinda dumb. what could possibly be a valid reason for wanting a game at one point, and then not wanting it just because it's delayed? you people sicken me. smash bros brawl had an even bigger delay and people didn't complain. and now we're getting free compensation and you're still mad? I'll be getting this and the game day one for sure, regardless of you silly people

Why are people so ignorant? The developers and publishers are NOT the same. Apologize to Mr. Ancel right now for being mean and blaming him for something Ubisoft Montipellier did.

Hmm, we get the online Challenge Mode (probably with some reasonably generous play restrictions) exclusively early. Not exclusively. The extra time is being used to make new characters and levels - again not stated as exclusive to Wii U.

Lets face it, Ubisoft would more than likely prefer a release early unless it pays them in some way to delay. My thinking is Sony and Micro offered an incentive of some sort to delay.

That's fantastic! We'll get the entire challenge mode free, and Ancel will add some extra goodness to the game. That is some very excellent news.

Well my hat goes off to Mr.ancel n his team for taking a better approach to this and giving us something to say they know we are ticked off. I have no problems with the developers but Ubisoft on the other hand I still feel some hate towards them. If Ubisoft wants to make it up to wii u owners then give us upcoming big title releases. So to support the dev team I will download this.does seem like some fun.and I love the fact that it will be updated daily.

I'm very pleased with this. I now know that those extra months will be used to make the game even better, not to mention that we'll be getting the online challenge mode FREE! I don't know why some people are still so bent out of shape about this, but whatever. Thank you, Mr. Ancel.

I'm fine with this. The challenge mode was way more than I though we would get and its way better then a demo since there are new challenges being updated all the time. I'll definitely download this, and buy the game when it comes out, even though I still think the decision was stupid. I think the game will be even better by the time it comes out

It's great to know that the development team have more integrity then the big wig suits and ties that created this whole mess in the first place just to make (or lose) some extra cash. The CEOs at ubisoft are nothing compare to the ones at Nintendo, but the developers are ok in my book. Too bad I can't support one without the other.

I wouldn't be mad if the game had simply been delayed to add more development time. What i'm pissed about, and the reason i'm boycotting everything ubisoft does from here on, is that the game is FINISHED fir Wii U. The delay is simply so that they can port it to xbox and playstation. They won't release it on wii u first, and then the other systems later... Yet that's exactly what they do ALL THE TIME with their other AAA titles when they port them to nintendo consoles. I guarantee they wouldn't delay watch dogs or splinter cell on xbox just so they can have time to port it to wii u as well! It's a double standard and nintendo gamers are being shoved aside for no reason, and this online challenge mode, while a nice gesture, doesn't make up for the fact that we should be playing the COMPLETED full game on wii u next week.

I'm sorry but I just can't support this anti consumer attitude from companies like ubisoft . The game was done you should have released it . Now you release an extra mode of the game in April ? Why not release that NOW to appease customers .
Rayman legends will be the last thing on my mind come April as I will be neck deep in MHTU . For the individuals saying "you're dumb for not supporting ubi" or "thanks for the bone ubi" , you need to understand the message it sends to large corporations . That message is "here I am abuse me !!". Without our money they (ubisoft) can brought to their knees . Understand the power that you as a consumer can excercise .

The online mode is NOT exclusive to Wii U. Only a couple of the stages are.

Aside from a boycott of the game hurting the developers, it's also a really good way of telling Ubisoft that their games don't sell on Wii U and that they shouldn't bother releasing games for it at all. It's a lose-lose scenario.

Some people here need to learn the difference between developers and publishers. These guys are the developers, they've been working their asses off getting us the game in time. I'm humbled by their reaction. The less said about the publishing side of Ubisoft, the better.

I think this is as good as it could get without actually changing the release date back.

Also, people: the online mode is not exclusive. The early release of it is, and so are some of the stages.

And yay, they're actually adding new content instead of just porting it over the next few months. I'll easily pick this over GTA (which won't be coming to Wii U anyway).

@OGGamer If Rayman doesn't sell enough, Ubisoft will put away the franchise for a while, and release 3 Assassin's Creed games per year instead. You don't bring companies like Ubisoft to their knees, just the actual creative franchises. No one buying the fantastic Red Steel 2 is leading to us not getting an awesome sequel. Awesome how we've brought them to their knees, right? No company's going to read anything into you not buying this game — they do, however, look at the outpouring of support for the developers.

@bizcuthammer Yes the game was finished, but the video clearly states they're adding new stages, bosses, characters. So Wii U gamers are actually getting something out of this delay.

Can someone call Bill Murray?

If you people want someone to blame, blame Microsoft. This whole mess is their fault for refusing to not have a simultaneous muliplatform launch and thus making us wait. Wish Ubisoft would just ditch those jerks, but that obviously wouldn't be a smart move.

This is not the developers bringing this free stuff on their own, it is still Ubisoft doing that in the desperate try to calm down the fans.
And blame Microsoft for what?
Did they know this game would not go sold out being released for one console only?
If you are about to release a game in just 3 weeks, and suddenly change your mind like crazy, the only consequence as a customer is that there's no way I will buy this game, no matter what.

@tealovertoma I was speaking in general using rayman legends as an example . Do you really think that any company losing a large amount of money from consumers not buying their products will fail to take notice ? Who keeps them in business ? Unless they print their own money .
The developers seem like nice guys I wish them well . Oh and rayman as well as mario need to be shelved for awhile .

Ubisoft is full of idiots if they think a stupid demo can fix this.

I'll pass! Too little, too late.

After February, my interest for this game will be moot. If UbiSoft don't want my money, that's their own problem. I'll just get this game used whenever it's in the bargain bin around 2014 or so.

I found the Xbox "RT" button pretty funny at 1:20 for this timed Wii U exclusive download.

**** * UBI**** !!

At least we got something. (Albeit, I would still prefer getting the game on the February target date, but at least the bigwigs were merciful enough to do this.)

I'll still be picking it up whenever it comes out. Can't let this lovingly talented team that made the game have their efforts go to waste.

That's a big effort to keep Wii U owners happy from the developers after the publishers angered us.

Im not happy w/ Rayman being delayed but i am very impressed and happy to have been united w/ my fellow WiiU owners to voice our anger and frustration over this matter.

I also appreciate the entire Rayman dev team with their protest and of course now the new upcoming additional features to this good game.

Im not sure what im going to do come September...i dont want to hurt this great dev team but i also fo t want to support ubisofts decision.

But i am sure i will not download this new demo because honestly i dont want the scraps they're offering us

I understand peoples hurt but not buying this game on Wii U will give them the excuse that there is no market for non-Nintendo games on Wii U and no point in releasing any other major games on the console.
If you really want to hurt Ubisoft never buy a game for theirs again (no matter the platform) however show them how passionate you are about Rayman Legends through actually buying the game and supporting the dev team behind it. Otherwise you may never see their talented work on Wii U (or 3DS) for while.

And then we learn the demo only has 5 plays available for it.

EDIT: ...and then I finish the video. ^^;

No! come on, just release the game as promissed...

The last demo allowed only 30 launches, there are bound to be limitations on this too. I have to ask will the compensatory characters be just on WIIU or on all platforms?

As olive branches go, a free online challenge mode is a good start. Ubisoft have realised their mistake and are trying to make things up with the Nintendo audience

So this is the spooning we get after what happened to us?

Nice save Ubi! Not a bad deal really for Wii U owners in the end, still not as good as the game but it's a positive step. Nice to see

its good ubisoft are doing something and it should please wii u owners as its FREE and ONLINE

Still not enough, Why are we accepting this paltry crumb at all? We would have gotten this from the full game anyway! Is it the best effort a software company has done to make amends? probably. But that doesn't mean squat when the fact of the matter is that we should have the FULL game! And I will not pander to them. I am the customer and they have to EARN my money! ANd yes they didn't have to do anything to make amends, but then again WE don't have to buy jack squat from them either. I truly hope that this stupid sense of self-entitlement companies have will finally be quashed.

@Hamguar Thank you exactly my point . Why should I feel like I'm being held prisoner ? I don't understand why people feel that if we protest by not buying this game in september "it could make them think that there is no audience on wii u and then ..." and then what ? We won't get anymore of their mediocre games ? They owe US the customer , we don't owe them anything . So this "buy our game or else we won't make anymore" attitude that people keep projecting onto ubisoft is uncalled for .

Why didn't people get butthurt when Brawl was delayed? I simply don't get it.

"how truly humbled we were by the outpouring of support "
Translation: there were pitchforks
"It definitely hurt us to see you guys so upset by the delay"
They got inside.

Well, I guess that's SOMETHING. Ubisoft will never admit they were playing hardball with Nintendo, but perhaps next time they'll keep the players in mind.

@Rect_Pola The smart people were supporting the developers. And attacking the publishers. There is a difference, and these are the developers speaking.

@TheKingOfTown Because Brawl's delay wasn't for an asinine reason. Rayman Legends was already delayed before, to 'refine it.' As far as I'm concerned, many were okay with that reason--just like Brawl. But delaying a completed Wii U game 7 months just to release it on other consoles, that's what we're 'butthurt' about. I couldn't give a toss that this game is no longer exclusive. I knew it was gonna happen since day one. It's holding back a completed game, it's enough to drop a heavy lourde on Ubisoft.

As for this challenge mode, I'll definitely get it. I still wish it was the full game, though.

I wasn't going to get the game, so this just means that I get free content to me.

@Linkstrikesback I mistook who made the quote. Please don't call people names.

@Mollutje

I mistook who made the quote.

@OGGamer First, how is Rayman mediocre?
Second, I think what people mean is that if a large game like Rayman isn't supported, there's the possibility that third party support could repeat itself. Granted I was mad about the delay, but when the people who weren't responsible are reaching out to appease the chaos, maybe its time to grow up and think "I don't owe them anything, and they don't owe me anything." So by us getting anything for FREE, we might as well take it as a win since no other system is getting the online mode until the game comes out(NOT A DEMO).

Nobody got super butthurt about past games that got delayed, eg. Pikmin, Wonderful 101. Yeah the delay of this game is to port it over to other consoles, even though its complete, is stupid. From what the developers are saying though, they are going to add more to the actual game so when it comes out we get more content. If they would've said that in the first place without emphasizing the "porting" part, I wouldn't have been as upset.

@tealovertoma I'm aware of that and that the developers are as much in the crossfire of whatever Ubisoft is playing as we are. My comments weren't directed at Ancel so much as using his words to make light of Ubisoft's situation in general that would require Ancel and his people to come out with a fix (or as close to a fix Ubisoft is going to greenlight).
Besides, as a subsidiary, I'm willing to bet this was on orders to make "this" go away.

You guys can argue all you want, I am hyped for this game and I am VERY excited about this news! Delays don't bother me much. Heck remember the days of Rare/Nintendo? Now those guys delayed games more than anyone!

DLC for free is a rare thing these days. This time its free to EVERYONE. Whether or not you plan on buying the game. This is truly awesome!

@WaveBoy Glorified Flash games?

I seriously don't understand you at times. This isn't bashing, it's just me being confused at how you bash on games like Jett Rocket and Gunman Clive (some of the best budget titles around) and use the most generic titles possible as comparison (Mutant Mudds and SM3DL). And now you call Rayman Origins, one of the best platformers of the last generation, a glorified flash game when the 2D platformers you listed before are far inferior?

@rayword45 Don't feed the troll, Rayword. pats your shoulder

@MagicEmperor Meh, I'm not sure if he's a troll half the time, I have enough faith in half his posts to believe he's not.
.

Not bad!

(Sigh) If they R going to add more stuff then fine I guess. -_-
Gotta realize that the delay was not the developers fault.
The video was great. "WAY BETTER than the Nexflix's apology video" about the price increase. They seem legitimately sad about the outcry of the delay.
I guess I'll still get the game...but not on launch day I think. Yea.

Yes, watch the video if you haven't. This is good. I like this. It seems like a ton of the game play time will be given away for free, to be honest. Over time I think these guys may win back the fans.

Still a horrible move by Ubisoft to break them apart, but I guess they feel their hands are tied by the draconian limitations of the XBox platform. Devs should stand up to this crap come the new generation. Seriously.

Even though it still stings, I think I'll be playing more Rayman Legends this way in the end. Can't be all bad I guess. Also, with MiiVerse this could really get some attention and long drum up to the actual game release.

@WaveBoy Hey thanks for summing up the way I feel. So as a reply to @Shanksta and in answer to his question "what makes rayman mediocre ?" I will kindly refer him to the well put reply that you made to magicemperor . It seems obvious from certain comments the difference between those who have played platformers for several gaming generations and those that only played them for a generation or 2 .

Give it or not, but don't give us pieces of it. You are spoiling the game before we have it in our hands with this 'Challenge mode'. Challenge modes come after Story mode.

I consider it fair redemption.

I'll be trying out the challenge mode when it arrives and if the game gets good reviews, when it eventually shows up, i'll certinaly consider getting it. I think short of releasing the game, it's as good as anyone can expect.
I can understand people's frustration with Ubisoft over the delay of an apparently finished game, but i don't think boycotting their games is very helpful, if it turns out to be a great game and bombs on Wii U then it'll reduce chances of getting future games from them, and this in turn might put off other 3rd parties from publishing on Wii U.
Going back to Ubisoft, i know they put out a lot of shovelware [Imagine titles where the name usually ends in Z] but they also have some good properties and publish for some really talented developers. I would like to see a new Zombi U game, or further Assassins Creed installments and Watchdogs on Wii U and if these new titles can attract more Wii U owners then that's good in my book.

Yeah, I don't see the point in boycotting Rayman Legends. Unfortunately this is going to be one of the few new generation games we are going to see on Wii U, as most of developers seem to be ignoring Nintendo once again. But I think it's Nintendo fault for not releasing powerful enough systems lately and I'm not saying here Wii U is worse than PS360 but obviously is far from powerful. Once again.

Is it just me or does it seem like this site's member's are all feeling more positive about Rayman Legends now than on anywhere else, even on the Facebook page they are still bashing Ubisoft about the Online mode, they also don't seem to believe that they are adding more content to Rayman Legends.

All the negatives aside though, I feel that this is a much better offering than the demo, I was never going to boycott the game to begin with anyway, I wasn't even sure if they were going to add more content, atleast Ubisoft still respect their fans, just most people fail to see that.