There's no questioning the string of quality titles that have arrived on the Wii U as of late. With Super Smash Bros. still managing to keep fans at bay, as well as the brand new Splatoon on the horizon, consumers have had enough on the table to keep them dusting off their console. Still, there's a strong demand for a new entry in one franchise in particular, and that series is none other than The Legend of Zelda.

Gamers were reassured that the hotly anticipated installment would be arriving by the end of 2015 during The Game Awards, however, Nintendo has now announced that The Legend of Zelda for Wii U will not be arriving this year.

The producer of The Legend of Zelda franchise, Eiji Aonuma, clarified the news in the form of a video recently posted on Facebook. According to Aonuma, the reasoning for the delay is to allow the developers currently working on the title time to crank out the best possible end product, as well as pursue developmental ideas that will hopefully make the end product better.

"Since I declared at The Game Awards in December that the game would launch in 2015, the directors and the many members of the development team have been working hard developing the game to make it the best it can be."

It's hard to say what spawned the producer's change of heart in terms of sticking to a deadline, but Aonuma made it official that the priority for the forthcoming Zelda title is no longer to launch the software this year.

"So, I must apologize to you all that were expecting the game by year's end, but we are no longer making a 2015 release our number one priority. Instead, our priority is to make it the most complete and ultimate Zelda game."

Fans will likely be distraught over the news that a new game starring the green-suited hero Link won't be arriving in 2015, but it's reassuring to know that those working on the game want to ensure that the title is the best it possibly can be. With hints that suggest that the return of Majora's Mask-esque masks are imminent, this delay could mean big things for a game that many have been anticipating since the Wii U was first announced.

Fortunately, fans still have several titles, including a brand new Star Fox, to keep them entertained in the meantime. That said, stay tuned to Game Rant for more updates on when The Legend of Zelda for Wii U will be hitting store shelves.

Were you looking forward to The Legend of Zelda arriving on Wii U this year? What do you think of the game's delay?

Source: Facebook