While none can doubt Ubisoft's commitment to publishing on the Wii U, that console's version of Splinter Cell: Blacklist will lack a feature the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions all have: offline cooperative multiplayer.


In an interview with Nintendo Life, producer Liu Jun of Ubisoft Shanghai said the feature was left out of Splinter Cell: Blacklist on the Wii U in order for that title to ship at the same time as the other versions. "But we think Nintendo gamers will be really excited to get the game at the same time as other consoles." Liu added.

The game will feature co-operative missions as part of its main campaign, but Liu noted that they are optional and "almost all of the missions can be played by a single player, if they choose to do so."


Off-TV play (on the Gamepad screen) still is supported in all modes, Liu said, and of course online cooperative multiplayer is still available to Wii U gamers. Liu didn't explain why building offline co-op for Wii U would have caused it to ship later, but one guesses that the variable thrown in by the Gamepad, and the fact the Wii U does not support two Gamepads for local play, may have something to do with it.

Interview: Ubisoft On Splinter Cell Blacklist, Taking the Series Forward and Wii U Features [Nintendo Life via Game Informer]