Ubisoft has confirmed that Rayman Legends will not be making it out on Wii U this year, instead releasing in the first quarter of 2013.

The publisher did not provide a specific reason for the later-than-expected release window, but did say:

"We're happy that fans are excited about the game, and we are taking the time to make sure we deliver a game that lives up to and hopefully exceeds their expectations. We'll have more details to share soon."

With Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros. U being a prominent Wii U launch title, Rayman Legends would have been up against a mammoth challenger in the platformer genre leading up to Christmas.

Ubisoft had earlier explained the thought process behind making Rayman Legends a Wii U exclusive game.