A couple weeks ago, industry veteran Koji Igarashi revealed his latest project to the world, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. The hotly anticipated game will follow the adventure of a character named Miriam as she explores a dark, gothic castle infested with a vast array of ghouls and ghosts. Obviously, it doesn't draw any inspiration from IGA's previous work on the Castlevania franchise (/sarcasm), but one decision that divided opinion was the fact that the game was initially skipping out on the Wii U. However, there was a tantalizing glimmer of hope that a Wii U port could be happening and it turns out that this is now a very real possibility.
Just today, a Wii U port has been confirmed as a $3 million stretch goal. Whether or not this will be hit is still very much up in the air, as that would mean roughly $250,000 will need to be pledged in a little over two weeks. Should the Wii U port come to fruition, it will be helmed by none other than Armature Studio, a studio of ex-Retro employees that have had experience working with the Metroid Prime games. Here's the full update from the Kickstarter page:
That's right: You've blown our expectations so far out of the water that we're ready and able to get started on a Wii U version.
During the campaign all of us who've been working to make Bloodstained a reality have been really touched by how many of you thanked IGA and the team for keeping stretch goals and tiers realistic. Kickstarters aren't just a way to sell merchandise and games, after all: They're a way to fund the development of the game we all want to play.
With that in mind, a lot of you have asked about ports—not just because you want them, but because you want to make sure that making them won't affect IGA's vision for the game. We have good news, and really good news.
The good news is, it won't: IGA and Inti Creates are going to continue developing the game as before, without compromise.
The really good news is how they're going to ensure it won't: At our next stretch goal Armature Studio will join the fray to handle the Wii U version.
If you haven't heard of Armature yet—and don't worry, you will soon enough—you've definitely heard of the work they've done: Armature was formed in Austin, Texas by a team of key developers from the Metroid Prime franchise, and since then they've worked with companies like EA, Konami, WB Games, Gearbox, and Sony to produce original games and HD remasters.
But we'll let them speak for themselves:
"When we were approached with the opportunity to assist with Bloodstained on Wii U, we were ecstatic. This style of game is one we are intimately familiar with from our Metroid Prime days, and it's exciting to once again put our familiarity with Nintendo hardware to good use. We have extensive remastering experience - our remastering projects include the Metal Gear Solid Collection for PS Vita, Injustice for PS Vita, and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel for PS4/XB1. We look forward to the challenge of making sure that the Wii U edition of Bloodstained stands proudly with its brethren on Unreal Engine 4."
What do you think of Bloodstained? Do you think it'll make the jump to Wii U? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source kickstarter.com]
Comments 90
YES!!!!!!!!!! But I'll still get it on Steam though.
I might have to fund this now that there is a chance for a Wii U version. Hopefully they will still allow people to get a different version if the stretch goal doesn't pan out...
Backed it the moment I saw the announcement on Twitter.
There you go Wiiu owners can shut up now.
Yeah, they can have my money now.
Hopefully the nonsense the Project Cars devs are trying to pull won't put others off.
The goal is very attainable. The kickstarter has been gaining steadily. In the past five or six days they completed 200,000 worth of stretchgoals. It seems like they have a huge amount of money to raise for the WiiU version, put people are really throwing their money at this game.
Edit: forgot to say the main campaign page doesn't show the additional money they've been receiving through paypal.
I'm shocked that this game has already surpassed Yooka-Laylee's funding.
@Tsuchinoko Also KS campaigns tend to get their biggest support in the first and last few days. Expect this to have a huge spike at the end of the campaign. Mighty No. 9 raised $600,000 in the last 24 hours, more than any other single day total in its campaign.
Graph: http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/mightyno9/mighty-no-9/dailypledges.png
Awesome, looking forward to this.
I had been holding out hope that this one would make it to the Wii U. Glad to see that this is a possible reality!
Apparently with paypal included they're somewhere around 2,810,000.
Nice. Looking forward to it, first it needs to be released though... so not hyped yet
About freaking time. Seriously the Wii U should be the first console this game could had came for. I still say the dude's team is lazy for not handling the game themselves like them other port.
Nice! Yooka-Laylee, Little Devil Inside and now, hopefully, Bloodstained all joining WiiU from KickStarter. Shame Formula Fusion didn't even consider it, but we'll have FAST Racing NEO anyway
Maybe. Maybe I'll just wait for the reviews of the Wii U port version.
They should easily reach the goal. First few and last few days are where the money really rolls in. I'll probably be getting it on one of the original target consoles though, as it's going to be a tricky port with the Wii U not supporting the original engine. I hope it turns out well for the Wii U only people though.
The big question is, will it be released concurrently with the XOne and PS4?
Before this news:
'Oh, this sucks! I am never going to buy any of Igarashi's games ever again! No Wii U, no sale!'
After this news:
'Oh, this is awesome! I always wanted to have this game and I am definitely supporting Igarashi!'
The fickle ignorance of Nintendo fans, hey?
Gonna laugh so much if this doesn't reach its goal.
In all seriousness, this came as no surprise to me. It was clear that this game would receive more than enough funds to ensure a full and proper development and it was kinda fishy that just one console was being left out. All the same, I can't wait, Castlevania is one of my favorite franchises.
That's great. My question is whether they'll include the wii U version of the game in the physical game disc rewards to choose from once the stretch goal is cleared. I might actually back it if that's confirmed.
Well ppl if you want it, back it, because that's the only way it's going to happen.
This is great to hear. I doubt my old computer will be able to handle the game, so I'll wait for the goal to be reached, then think about backing it.
@Peek-a-boo It's almost as though different people say different things and the collective hivemind of this site's members is only a myth.
Now I want to back but I don't know what reward to buy to make sure I get a WiiU version since the rewards only was the original three platforms.
Great,now there's no reason for Wii U owners ,who were hesitant to give their money, to back the game. And no one can complain anymore
They've funded the game and reached so many stretch goals in such a short amount of time;I'm sure this stretch goal will get funded by the end of today,especially now that the Wii U version is confirmed
Wii U version? I put my money where my mouth is and backed $60 for a physical version. Actual, physical disc version, not just a case with digital code.
@conway1993
When stretch goals for additional platforms are met, they are always included alongside the original platforms. So if a reward tier says PS4/X1/Steam you can go ahead and toss Wii U in as well. They went on record to say they will update everything once the Wii U goal has actually been met.
I have backed the project for PS4 but, at first, I wanted Wii U and Vita versions. But after watching the campaign I am afraid that they may have to downgrade their vision of the game. They said otherwise but it seems clear that Wii U, 3DS and Vita cannot handle the game. However those guys at armature have done some great Vita games, Injustice, Metal Gear HD...
Remember to be careful with this. Because there is no GUARANTEE it will come to Wii U. So don't go blowing $100+ on this and complaining if they don't reach the Wii U goal. Just saying.
@Superstick They are guaranteed to reach $3 million, though, as far as anything is ever guaranteed. It'll probably reach over $4 million before the campaign ends.
The risk is more how smoothly development will go. That's always a risk with Kickstarter.
Some doubted my previous article that the Wii U was being teased so... give me a sec... *clears throat
TOLD YOU SO.
@ThomasBW84 I thought that was pretty obvious. It was hinted in the FAQ and you could clearly see the Wii U logo.
@hiptanaka As did I
Sorry, but after Project Cars, I won't support this. I don't trust Kickstarter anymore. Only because it says that some company will make a version of the game for Wii U, does not mean it will really happen.
I think the major problem with a WII port is it running on Unreal 4 which does not support the wiiU hardware so they have to make it work under Unreal3 I suppose but that takes time and money.
I still hope we get an equall(y awesome?) game from Iga for the 3DS but one can only dream...
Yeaaaaay! I hope the next news I read will be about how the game IS coming to WiiU. Day one buy for me!
You guys realize this game will not be out until late 2017 / 2018 and that this port will be released even later? By then Ill be playing my shiny NX.
Well if it does hit the stretch goal then I will probably pick it up for Wii U when it is released.
So excited! ... but if i back this project now, can i choose to get it on Wii U? or do i have to choose between PS4/XBone/Steam?
@CharlyDunst The unrealistic budgets of some projects put me off Kickstarter.
I was going Steam, but the map on the GamePad makes me surprisingly excited in this case, and ransacking the inventary in real time even more.
I was excited, but now I am horny!
@CharlyDunst Understandable. I personally back Kickstarters for the potential alone, when something awesome enough shows up (with the right people behind it). I never 100% expect they will be able to pull it off. Like buying a lottery ticket with a high chance of winning something great.
The game looks interesting, but I'll wait for reviews before I decide if I want this game or not. And besides, it's going to be a couple years before the game actually comes out, so I'm not in any hurry to get excited for this game.
@XFujin they usually ask you before releasing the game what console you want it on. You give them the info and the such.
Count me in. Great news on armature handling this version too!
@khululy it takes money, hence why it was such a big stretch goal. Additionally they will have armature working on the game at (supposedly) the same time alongside the main team so theoretically the WiiU version should be ready alongside the others. Though it may not look as good. If the NX is announced and has an easier way of porting they may port the PS4 version onto that as well. Though I'm sure the WiiU version will still exist. My main issue is how different it may end up being from the main versions, not graphically, but in terms of gameplay and set up and potential bugs. As even if it is handled at the same time as IGA states that poses issues in that the communication may be off and some differences may show up here and there. But if IGA trusts them so much there probably won't be big differences other than maybe Graphics.
All of this is assuming the NX is a Home console and not something else entirely. Also I wonder how Nintendo will work to make the NX a stronger console if it is a Home console. They may announce and release it and it could be incredibly more powerful than the PS4 and Xbone but how long till Sony and Microsoft decide to release their PS5 and 10QuadracularContainerNone and it is even stronger so that the respective canvases begin mockery again, and Devs decide not to support Nintendo with their work again unless it turns into a success like the Wii in terms of sales.
@vonseux
The game is going to come out around March 2017(physical versions will ship Mar. 2017). I don't know what the NX has to do with this anyway, we don't even know what it even be until next year not to mention a release date...
@Peek-a-boo ...
Sure, keep thinking that way. And so I will then believe that all Sony and Microsoft Fans also have their own fickle Ignorant Hiveminds in which they all think the same and all post the same things on the web.
Like before a fan posts something they must ask the collective being what it is they all think, and that will be what they will all think. There are certainly people like you describe, but they're everywhere. Do not Attribute them to the whole of a fanbase.
@Tazcat2011 That was maybe the biggest sign for me to say "Nope... that's too risky for me". Besides, what do we know about Armature Studio? Will they deliver a good port or will they suffer and fail like the guys from Project Cars?
@BinaryFragger It is good to see that some people have some faith into Kickstarter. Heck, I supported games as well like Shantae, Mighty No 9 or Pier Solar. But I knew that those people would deliver. Koji is just like Keiji a business guy, who wants to make a game with the money of others and since Keiji was so successful with MN9, Koji believes that he can do the same and... yes. It got fond. But this 3 mil Wii U thing bothers me pretty much and holds me away from backing the project because we all know what could happen when we look at Project Cars. People got too much, promised the heaven and later landed on their noses and had to crawl toward us only to say that they can't do it on Wii U. I have the bad feeling that this could happen here as well, that people overtook themselves and later say "Sorry, but we can't do it".
@hiptanaka No, I don't take back what I said, because this is just a poor excuse to get more and more money for this project and later they say "Sorry, but it is not possible to make on the Wii U". This is just like Keiji tried to do with the extra kickstarters for voice and whatsoever else. I stay away from this like a cat from poison and will watch what this will bring.
@KryptoKrunch every kickstarter game ever got delayed. The game is nothing but a concept art at this point so "late 2017" is very optimistic. I mentioned NX because WiiU will probably be over with in 2018.
Cool, I hope they get the WiiU goal. If so I'll buy the finished product day one.
I'm pleased by this news. I hope it gets there, and I'll surely buy in on Wii U if it does. I'm still not backing it, however - I can only support so many Kickstarters at one time, and recent weeks have seen me back quite a few of them. I guess things could be different if they had announced the Wii U port earlier.
Still, very excited to see how this unfolds.
Hope it will reach the goal. So we'll have a (semi) handheld version of the game and I prefer playing my 2D game on a small screen. Disappointed 3DS and Vita get ignored though. There's a serious lack of Igavania on this gen's handhelds after the 3 masterpiece he gave us on DS.
.....
Come on, backers! I needs this port!
@retro_player_22
It's ignorant to just call them lazy as you evidently have no concept of why another team would need to handle this. For one thing, keep in mind that it's being developed in Unreal 4--an engine that does not run on Wii U. That means this other team will be taking the assets developed by the main team, and rebuilding them for Unreal 3 so it actually runs on the Wii U.
That's not remotely lazy. That's extremely logical. And the primary team needs to focus on the main game.
It is gonna be a long time before we see the final result of this, I hope it turns out really exceptional. Will buy it on Wii U, of course.
Castlevania bloomed on a nintendo system. And now the franchise makes nintendo it's last choice. Sad.d
Now people here want to back this game. Just the other day they said they weren't going to support it. Too funny.
Wow some of you are gonna be a while wiping that egg off of your face!
Anyway, I think this is the same studio that developed that Batman game for the Vita/3DS. If so, then this is good. I'm getting the PS4 version, but I'm happy for the Wii U owners as well.
So it's basically a quarter of a mil for this game to land on a Nintendo system? That should be attainable. I will help fund.
Not a fan of this project, tbh, despite being a huge Castlevania fan. I feel like IGA is too busy sniffing his own farts and acting like he's the godfather of the Castlevania franchise, when really he directed six handheld Metroidvania sequels - none of which were as good as Symphony of the Night, directed by Toru Hagihara. Aria of Sorrow was his masterpiece, but even that, was still behind SOTN.
The Wii U version of this will be running on a different engine than the original game, and while I'm sure that Armature will do a good job with the port, that doesn't mean it will be identical. Plus, I think their backing price is way too high for a game of this nature. It's no wonder this game has been so well funded - it's $28 just to secure a digital copy. Compare that to $20 for Mighty No 9. A whopping $60 gets you a physical copy. All of this from a guy ripping off from a franchise he didn't even create. He didn't even create this sub-genre within the franchise.
EDIT: And digging through their Kickstarter, I see that physical copies will be coming to retail no matter what. Backing for $60 now will get you a special Kickstarter version with an exclusive slip cover and additional content. I've still yet to see whether or not the Wii U stretch goal means that there will be physical Wii U copies and not just an eShop version. I'll just get the physical retail version when it comes out, because I seriously doubt it will be $59.99 game in stores when it launches. If the Wii U gets a physical release at launch that isn't gimped, I'll get that. If not, I'll just get it for PS4.
100% of getting the 3 million goal, thats pretty good,
i love all these indie low graphic level games on my WiiU, the gamepad is PERFECT for it.
@JaguarWong
Yet another Ninty fan who doesn't understand a damn thing.
Anyway this is great news. Especially since it's being done by people I think we can trust with a port. Now y'all here who wanted this game should go ahead and push through to that goal.
Rather have it on 3DS, but I won't be picky.
People please help fund this project. With your help we can get this amazing game, but we need your support now. Please pledge at Kickstarter the amount you can afford now, also you'll get great collectibles.
WiiU now is supported, why not to pledge? We all can reach the $3KK in no time. It will be a fact it gets funded anyway. Please help this project at Kickstarter www.igavania.com
@outburst It would be nice to have on Wi u the Wi u is a Dieing console
@AVahne
I'm not a Ninty fan, I'm a Nintendo hardware owner (among many various other things).
I'd be very interested to hear what it is that you think I don't understand though.
@Quorthon They're rebuilding the assets for Unreal Engine 3 so it runs on the Wii U?? Where have you heard that, or did you just make that up?
I'm totally clueless when it comes to tech stuff like this, but from what I've read you can make Unreal Engine 4 games run on the Wii U, it just takes more effort for developers.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/03/epic_games_developers_can_use_unreal_engine_4_for_wii_u_titles
@Peek-a-boo naw, just the ludicrous warblings of trolls who conflate a handful of people with the entirety of the "Nintendo fan base".
Will the Wii U even be relevant by the time this game comes out?
@Quorthon Unreal Engine 4 runs on WiiU
Did he say the Wii U is using the Unreal 4 engine or did i read that wrong?
@ColdingLight Wii is still relevant
Nice! Here comes my money!
@Mega719 Yeah the Wii was pretty relevant. I mean, it manage to sell 100 sum million units. Unlike the Wii U.
@ColdingLight just because Wii U is barely selling doesn't mean they would stop making games after the next console is out (which could be years later) wii ports are still being made even though it's easily overshadowed by the Wii U versions because wii sells. Wii U could get a bigger cult following after the NX or whatever it will be called
@Mega719 I don't know if you realize this but you incorrectly said "Wii" instead of Wii U. But with that out of the way, you said: " just because Wii U is barely selling doesn't mean they would stop making games after the next console is out" Dude, this thing is one of the worst selling Nintendo console in history. I think they're going to drop the Wii U pretty fast. especially if the NX comes out in 2017. Also, you said Wii ports are still happening? Other than Rodea or whatever it's called they're no ports happening on the Wii. Where did you get that "fact"?
@ColdingLight Skylanders Superchargers was announced yesterday and Ubisoft would probably announce another Just Dance game on Wii. There are some smaller 3rd parties who do this still too.
@Mega719 Well, I googled What consoles is Skylanders Superchargers is coming to and No one's saying it's coming to the Wii. And I believe Ubisoft announced a couple of weeks ago that they're not making any more games for last gen consoles. And name one "Smaller 3rd party game" coming to the Wii. And if you say "Barbie's Horse Adventure Definitive 60FPS edition" get out. You just keep digging that hole deeper and deeper.
If it's anything like Super Castlevania 4 ... I'm all in ... Love that game and will be a day one download on Wii U
I'm in!! Screw you Konami!!
It feels so pathetic being the guy that plays on what is always the last platform pitched for a stretch goal on about 90% of these kickstarter games.
Was gonna back this up regardless but now that the Wii U version is considered I will be picking it up for Wii U if it holds up to the other consoles (which we won't know till its out.....). I'm having visions of the Castles map on the game pad rather than going back and forth from the game to the menus and it's enough to sell me on the Wii U version I just hope it's not watered down in anyway.....
So they made quite a u-turn! Originally it wasn't on the cards because they found the Wii u to weak (or something like that), and now all of a sudden a Wii u version may happen.
Can they explain why it's a $500.000 goal is needed for every other system but for some reason needs $3,000,000 for a Wii U version? I feel like that's a rip off. So Nintendo fans are expected to pitch in $2,500,000 while every other system only pays Less than a quarter of that? I think it's shameful. Unless I missed something.
If you take every goal individually it takes 250k for the wiiu version...
Don't see why anybody would want a port when the lead platform is an option.
Cool. Looking forward to playing Bloodstained on a Nintendo system, where it belongs.
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