Lego: The Hobbit isn't setting off for Wii U just yet

Warner Bros. revealed it's pushed back the Wii U version of Lego: The Hobbit until April 22 in North America, despite releasing the game on other platforms this week. According to a press release sent to Joystiq, Warner Bros UK is releasing the Wii U version alongside other platforms on April 11, while Vooks reports a May 7 due date for Nintendo's home console, in contrast to April 16 on other systems.

WB didn't explain why it's holding back Bilbo and his dwarven pals from Wii U adventures, but the publisher does have a bit of a history with the Nintendo console. The Wii U didn't get mulitplayer content or campaign DLC for Batman: Arkham Origins, and that version was also delayed in the UK. Add in the recent week's delay for the Wii U version of Arkham Origins: Blackgate in Europe, and then there's the year or so Europeans had to wait for Scribblenauts Unlimited on Nintendo systems.

As for Lego: The Hobbit itself, the game chronicles the first two films of the trilogy based on Tolkein's beloved book. Reportedly, dev Traveler's Tales is bringing There and Back Again to the game as DLC, with plans to release it when the third film hits cinemas in December.

While Wii U owners have to wait a little longer, if you fancy a halfling with the latest Lego game you can get it now on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Vita, 3DS and PC.

[Image: Warner Bros.]

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WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, TT GAMES
AND THE LEGO GROUP BUDDY-UP TO LAUNCH

LEGO® THE HOBBIT™ VIDEOGAME

Grab a Friend and Set Forth on a Perilous Journey Far Over the Misty Mountains
With Thorin and Company to Reclaim the Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor

Burbank, Calif. – April 8, 2014 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games and The LEGO Group today announced the launch of LEGO® The Hobbit™, available now in all major retail stores across North America for the Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment systems from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems and PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, and the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system, as well as Windows PC. The game will also be available for Nintendo's Wii U™ system on April 22.

"The LEGO The Hobbit videogame gives LEGO and Middle-earth fans of all ages a fun, new way to experience the legendary adventures of Bilbo and Company as told in the first two films of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit Trilogy," said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. "There is no better way for parents to share the beloved and classic tale told in The Hobbit films with their kids than with LEGO The Hobbit videogame, in which they can discover, explore, and build their way through Middle-earth together like never before."

LEGO The Hobbit is based on the first two films of The Hobbit Trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM). Additional content based on the third film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is planned to be available at a future release date.

LEGO The Hobbit will take players on epic quests and a variety of adventures as they explore key locations from the films, such as Lake-town, Dale, Erebor, Bag End, Goblin-town, Mirkwood, Rivendell and the treacherous High Pass over the Misty Mountains. Fans will also assume the roles of their favorite characters, including Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, and the Dwarves of Erebor: Thorin, Fíli, Kíli, Óin, Glóin, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori and Ori, each possessing a unique and hilarious ability. One of the main new features of the game allows players to utilize the Dwarves' combined abilities such as buddy fighting, two-player attack, staff climb, mace swing and belly bounce to help them fight Orcs and fouler things or to progress through the game.

Friends and family will enjoy discovering Middle-earth through the easy access drop-in, drop-out gameplay option available on the consoles. Together players will navigate 16 levels, unlock more than 90 playable characters and partake in diverse treasure quests, mine for gems, discover loot from enemies, craft powerful magical items, and collect objects as they triumph in a game of riddles and discover the power of The One Ring.

LEGO The Hobbit, developed by TT Games, is RATED "E10+" for everyone 10 and older by the ESRB is now available for Xbox One and PlayStation®4 for a suggested retail price of $59.99 (U.S.), for Xbox 360, PS3™ and Wii U™ for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (U.S), PS®Vita and Nintendo 3DS™ for the suggested retail price of $29.99 (U.S.) and Windows PC for the suggested retail price of $29.99 (U.S).