Pikmin 3 will not have online multiplayer

Pikmin 3, like Pikmin 2, will have a local multiplayer mode, but not an online multiplayer mode, creator Shigeru Miyamoto has said.

“In the case of Mario Kart, we did have online multiplayer, and that’s something that… You have to be very careful that you don’t drop frames as you’re trying to sync up with other players over what could be a very great physical distance, over the internet,” Miyamoto told IGN. “But in the situation of Pikmin, for example, since you would have lots of individual, small creatures, the Pikmin, whose every movement and location is going to be really important in the game, it would be very difficult to sync up over an internet connection.

“So I think what we’ve decided to do is focus on the single-player and local multiplayer aspects, which are really fun. But unfortunately, no online multiplayer for Pikmin 3. But the co-op local multiplayer is really fun.”

Pikmin 3 is due sometime during Wii U‘s launch window. Wii U will launch this holiday season.